Recession makes things harder for refugees

Press, 8 September 1982, Page 17

Recession makes things harder for refugees

NZPA staff correspondent Hong Kong The world economic recession is beginning to have an effect on the rate at which Indo-Chinese refugees in camps scattered throughout South-East Asia and in Hong Kong and Macau are being accepted for resettlement in other countries. The problem is causing great concern in Hong Kong where the number of Vietnamese refugees to land in August defied the trend elsewhere and showed a slight increase over arrivals in August last year. Hong Kong received 1241 refugees during the month, 18 more than in August. 1981. The level of arrivals has local officials involved in refugee work perplexed. In July Hong Kong tightened fairly loose security arrange-

ments which allowed refugees the freedom to work while awaiting resettlement elsewhere and introduced a closed camp policy. The policy change has not been as much a deterrent as expected, and Hong Kong now has nearly 13.000 Vietnamese refugees in various camps awaiting resettlement.

The United States and Canada, the two leading countries for resettlement, are expected soon to further reduce their level of intake. Economic problems and high unemployment are among reasons being put forward. Hong Kong officials believe they may be beginning to pay a price for their liberal attitude in the past. While refugee arrivals in Hong Kong in recent months have been roughly on a par

with last year's rate, elsewhere in the region the flow of refugees has dropped. The colony's assistant secretary for security, Mr C. E. Leeks, has said that the word of Hong Kong’s tougher policy had obviously not got back to people in Vietnam. More time was needed to get the message across.

He said that because there was no direct way of making the policy known in Vietnam, Hong Kong had to rely on shortwave news broadcasts and word of mouth to get it publicised.

A judgment on the effectiveness of the new policy would have to wait until the present seasonal period of arrivals ended about the end of September.