HC Deb 10 June 1992 vol 209 cc177-8W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what latest discussions he has had with the Government of Vietnam and the Governor of Hong Kong about the plight of the boat people; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Goodlad

Most recently, I discussed the problem of Vietnamese migrants in Hong Kong and repatriation of non-refugees with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Nguyen Manh Cam, during his visit to London on 4 to 5 June. I also discussed this issue with the governor of Hong Kong during my visit to the territory from 25 to 29 May.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Vietnamese boat people remain in camps in Hong Kong; and what timescale is envisaged for their resettlement.

Mr. Goodlad

A total of 54,686 Vietnamese migrants were in the camps in Hong Kong on 4 June 1992. Those determined to be refugees will be resettled in third countries. Those who are not have no option but to return to Vietnam. At current rates of arrivals in Hong Kong and returns to Vietnam, it will take over three years to clear the camps.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the Vietnamese boat people have been resettled from Hong Kong(a) in individual countries and (b) in total.

Mr. Goodlad

Between 1979 and April 1992, a total of 129,607 Vietnamese boat people who were considered to be refugees were resettled from Hong Kong in the following countries:

Number
Argentina 75
Australia 9,289
Austria 437
Belgium 196
Bermuda 7
Canada 24,872
China 37
Denmark 1,408
Finland 485
France 1,745
Germany 2,429
Greece 50
Hong Kong 554
Iceland 60
Ireland 110
Israel 38
Italy 112
Ivory Coast 1
Japan 554
Luxembourg 32
Netherlands 1,042
New Caledonia 80
New Zealand 877
Number
Norway (direct) 486
Norway (via RPC1) 547
Spain 251
Sweden 1,277
Switzerland 679
United Kingdom 14,296
USA (direct) 48,623
USA (via RPC1) 15,754
Vanuatu 12
Others 50
In refugee transit centre at Bataan awaiting resettlement 3,142
1 RPC=the refugee processing centre at Bataan.

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