- Title: HONG KONG: NEW WAVE OF BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVE IN HONG KONG.
- Date: 18th August 1981
- Summary: KAITAK EAST, HONG KONG GV PAN Refugee boats anchored in quarantine. (2 SHOTS) 0.10 SVs & GV Refugees on boats. (5 SHOTS) 0.22 SV Refugees sitting in boat. (4 SHOTS) 0.32 GVs refugee boats. (4 SHOTS) 0.53 GV & SV Refugees with children at Transit centre. Refugees preparing food. (4 SHOTS) 1.10 SV & CU Baby being fed. (2 SHOTS) 1.14 SV Children playing and eating. (2 SHOTS) 1.23 SV Refugees sitting outside shelter. 1.25 SVs & CU INTERIOR Refugees with children in crowded conditions. (4 SHOTS) 1.50
- Embargoed: 2nd September 1981 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- City:
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: General,People
- Reuters ID: LVAAKQOBAFXBFKO3K04L5H3LR0SA
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: KAITAK EAST, HONG KONG
INTRODUCTION: A new wave of Vietnamese boat people have arrived in Hong Kong. Last week, nineteen boats sailed into the Western Quarantine Anchorage, carrying almost six hundred refugees. Although some 73 thousand have found new homes overseas since January 1979, 20 thousand Vietnamese are still in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement.
SYNOPSIS: Vietnamese refugees continue to arrive in South East Asian shores at the rate of more than eight thousand a month.
Here in Hong Kong, homeless Vietnamese arrive daily, hoping the authorities will view their case favourably and give them temporary shelter. A special American refugee advisory panel warned on thursday (13 August) that the world can expect "a substantial" flow of boat people in the near future. The panel had visited Hong Kong and seven other countries.
These refugees arrived at the Kaitak East Transit Centre in Hong Kong over the past few days. At the moment there are almost three and a half thousand boat people there - most between the ages of 15 and 25.
There are more than one thousand children at Kaitak East. Half of them were born at the camp between 1979 and August this year. Their parents complained that the rice ration in Vietnam had been reduced, and although most of the refugees appeared well fed, they said they could never obtain their full ration. And they said there was every indication that conditions in Vietnam would grow worse.
The refugees have to live in overcrowded conditions, unaware of when or where they'll finally be able to settle. The longer they stay at the camp, the bigger the pressures grow.
The boat people have already cost the Hong Kong government eight and a half million U.S. dollars. But all have been given asylum.
<strong>Source: REUTERS - GARY LING</strong> - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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