The Attitude of the Local Population Towards Vietnamese Boat People in Hong Kong by Lawrence Lam The context With over 50,000 Vietnamese Boat the Hong Kong government and People in Hong Kong (as of August, people), Hong Kong will revert back to In the past ten years, Hong Kong 1989), and ~gardlessof cries of protest China. This by itself has created what has responded to the Vietnamese Boat (hunger strikes, demonstrations) in is commonly known as "1997 jitters" People in three distinctive ways, refugee camps and expressions of resulting in thousands upon ranging from initially a positive profound regret by countries such as thousands of Hong Kong people humanitarian response in 1975 to a Canada's, this forced repatriation is applying for immigration to Canada, developing negative reaction since likely to continue as the solution to the Australia, the USA and other places. 1982, culminating in the endorsement Vietnamese Boat People crisis in Hong However, many of the Hong Kong of the forced repatriation of 51 Boat Kong unless a concerted effort is taken people, responding to the 10 years of People from a detention centre who, by the international community to "open door" policy instituted by the on December 11,1989, at 3:00 am, were effectively stop the continuing influx Beijing regime, are somewhat literally "taken from their beds, of Boat People into Hong Kong and/or "hopeful" or, at least carried a certain bundled into caged trucks," driven to launching launching a program to level of "guarded optimism" that the airport under tight security (200 accept an increasing number of them "business will be as usual" and their heavily armed riot police) and cover of for resettlement. "life" will not be greatly or unduly darkness, and placed on a specially "disrupted and dislocated." However, chartered flight to Hanoi. This app- The attitude towards the June 1989 crisis in China provided roach has gained overwhelming sup- a rude awakening. For many of them, port from the Hong Kong people who Vietnamese Boat People there is no "escape route" from the believed that they have done as much impending "upheaval;" the sense of as possible to house the Boat People. Analyzing the Hong Kong helplessness is acutely felt. While they While this approach has drawn people's attitude towards these make attempts to alleviate this sense of criticism from other countries, it was ~fugeesis a complicated task, because helplessness by capturing every justified on two grounds: a) the Boat its root cause is not immediately opportunity to apply for visas to People being repatriated are not apparent. It involves an acute sense of immigrate (for example, when genuine refugees but illegal "helplessness" among Hong Kong Singapore announced in early August immigrants seeking better economic people, particularly as a response to 1989 that criteria for accepting opportunities; and b) to send a clear the June 1989 crisis in China. There is immigrants from Hong Kong would signal back to the would-be also a sense of "betrayal" and be greatly relaxed, literally thousands Vietnamese Boat People in Vietnam to "abandonment" experienced by them of people lined up at the Singapore deter them from arriving in Hong in Elation to the "right of abode" issue High Commission overnight to get an Kong when the monsoon season ends with the UK government. As well, a application form, and, when in March. In addition, as the attitude sense of being "victimized resulting completed, paid a sum of HK $1,200 of Hong Kong people has become from the "power struggle" between the for processing), international increasingly hostile towards the UNHCR and the UK is widely felt by communities such as the USA, the Vietnamese Boat People, this approach the Hong Kong people. Hence, they UK, Canada, Australia, and others do is probably a deliberate attempt by the do not want to be "burdened and not take any interest in "listening" to British government to show them that troubled" by these "uninvited and their impending plight, and least of all, the "mother country is doing unwelcome invaders." To understand "offeringttthem an "escape route." On something for the colony" and to this composite picture, it is necessary the other hand, meetings were held to satisfy the demand made by China to take note of several factors: discuss the Vietnamese Boat People. that every Vietnamese must be out by 1) As 1997 approaches (by a Implicitly or explicitly, Hong Kong 1997 when China takes over Hong negotiated treaty between the UK and was "criticized" for its treatment Kong. China, with minimal participation of towards the refugees and was

12 Refuge, Vol. 9, No. 3 (February 1990) "threatened (US Senator Solaz's visit there and supported by the Hong the UN's share of running the camps to Hong Hong in August 1989) that it Kong taxpayers should be drafted to (the UN has yet to reimburse HK $ 5 would bear the consequence of being keep order. However, this suggestion million for the fiscal year of 1989, to rejected by other countries when they was turned down with the explanation the Hong Kong government), themselves would be in a similar that this British army was not "trained repatriation is seen as a "farce." First, situation as a result of the 1997 for civilian and/or police duties. The the number of Vietnamese Boat People takeover of Hong Kong by the Chinese rejection was interpreted by the Hong voluntarily repatriated is small in government. This indeed has Kong people as another indication of comparison with arrivals. For intensified their sense of helplessness the British government's policy of example, on August 18, 1989, as the and uncertainty in the near future. %etrayal and abandonment." Worse, third group of some 121 Vietnamese 2) The sense of "betrayal" and some Hong Kong people have Boat People leaving for Vietnam on "abandonment" is directly related to interpreted this rejection, in board a jet, some 548 Boat People the British government in its conjunction with other issues arrived in Hong Kong by sea. Second, negotiation with the Chinese regime in mentioned, (e.g., maintaining Hong since each repatriate was given a Beijing. By and large, the "wheeling Kong as the first port of asylum), as a certain sum of money (US $50) by the and dealing" was conducted, in the hidden agenda by the British UNHCR prior to departure and often minds of Hong Kong people, without government to bleed Hong Kong to times, they used this sum of money to their "input" and without their death before the 1997 turn over. buy "luxurious items" in Hong Kong to "interest" being considered. They 3) As Hong Kong continues, bring back "home," the repatriation is believed that the British government reluctantly, to be the first port of seen as an "invitation" to other failed to negotiate a treaty with the asylum for the continuing influx of Vietnamese in Vietnam to come to Chinese regime that would guarantee Vietnamese Boat People, it is not Hong Kong. Indeed, there were their "security and stable future" in directly involved in the decision- reported cases that among the "newly Hong Kong; and to provide them with making process. Any decision made is arrived" Vietnamese Boat People, some an "escape route" in terms of granting seen as a "power struggle" between the were "ex-repatriates." (The UNHCR in them the right of abode in the UK had two major players in the game - the Hong Kong initially denied this and the situations after 1997 demanded. UNHCR and the UK with the USA later admitted that there might be a As over 3 million of the 6 million Hong calling the tune behind the scenes, few cases.) Nevertheless, the sense of Kong people were born there, as while Hong Kong is either totally being "victimized" as a result of not British subjects holding British ignored or, at most, allowed to assume being able to be "master of one's own passports, they believe that they have the role of "spectator." Its citizens feel home" is deeply and widely felt by the the inalienable right of abode in the "victimized as "pawns" in the game. Hong Kong people. UK However, not only has the British For example, with repatriation as the In addition to the above- government denied them this right, "game" played between the major mentioned factors underscoring the but in spite of increasing opposition players, the UNHCR, with the support largely negative attitude towards the towards the Vietnamese Boat People, it of the USA, insists that this has to be Vietnamese Boat People in Hong has insisted on maintaining Hong done completely voluntarily on the Kong, a fuller comprehension of Hong Kong as the first port of asylum - that part of the Vietnamese Boat People. Kong people's reaction to the is, imposing upon its colony the The British government has yet to Vietnamese Boat People requires a requirement that it continue the "open clearly spell out its position. T close examination on the following door policy" for incoming Vietnamese Hong Kong government, in spite factors: Boat People while it has neither overwhelming support of the Ho 1) Jealousy: With the impending increased its involvement in resettling Kong people for "repatriating" tho "take over" of Hong Kong by the these Boat People, nor sought to secure Vietnamese Boat People who a Chinese regime, many Hong Kong a viable solution with the international '*- out" as non-&gees back t people are trying to find an "escape communities to the Boat People crisis Vietnam, has been asked to app route" by emigrating to other in Hong Kong, nor made substantial additional funding to construct countries. In contrast to the contributions either in financial terms refugee camps to reduce t Vietnamese Boat People, it appears or in kind to the running and overcrowded conditions in so that the chance for the latter to leave is maintaining of refugee camps. For existing camps (temporary hold much better than that of the Hong example, in view of recent centres) as well as to improve t Kong people since the Vietnamese disturbances in different refugee living conditions for the Vietna Boat People are still the subject of camps, it was suggested that Boat People in the existing ca discussion in the international instead of over-stretching the While the major players continue community. However, while the Hong limited resouxes of the Police force in seek a solution to settle the score Kong people are "crying out" for Hong Kong, the British army stationed the Hong Kong people continue to attention to their impending plight

Refuge, Vol. 9, No. 3 (February 1990) 13 and "making attempts" to alleviate this the temporary holding centres, new close to a refugee camp when they increasingly "heightened level of camps are to be constructed. stated that they treated the Boat People anxiety," they are at the same time However, the decision of where the brought in by authorities first because forced to support others by letting camp should be constructed is, by and they did not want too many of them them have the very chance which they large, made by the government roaming around there while waiting have come to believe as the "solution" without any consultation with the for treatment) have effectively to their "problems." Hence, in spite of local people. Recently the government "hardened" the negative attitude of the the appalling living conditions in decided to build a new refugee camp Hong Kong people, who already lived camps, they are at least a step ahead of within the vicinity of a reservoir in an in limited limited and congested living the Hong Kong people in terms of outlying district. This choice drew space, towards the Vietnamese Boat leaving for other secure places before criticism and protest from the Hong People as "unwanted and unwelcome the inevitable establishment of a larger Kong people. Their reaction to this people." The Vietnamese Boat People, refugee camp in Hong Kong, this time was undoubtedly related to what the the Hong Kong residents argued, for the Hong Kong people. media reported - instances of usurped the already limited social and (2) Sense of injustice: As a Vietnamese Boat People polluting the medical services, while the Hong Kong substantial portion of the Hong Kong waters in and around their refugee residents' "uncertainty" about their people left China for Hong Kong in camps. Therefore, the Hong Kong own future heightened daily. 1949 when the People's Republic of people do not believe, in spite of China was established, some still have numerous assurances from the Concluding remarks relatives or even family members in government, that security measures China. The Hong Kong immigration and other amenities built in the new The analysis of Hong Kong regulations have made "family camp would make it virtually people's attitude towards the reunion" a difficult and long-drawn impossible for the Vietnamese Boat Vietnamese Boat People underscores process. In addition, in an attempt to People to do anything that would the fact that any solution to the "Boat stem the flow of "illegal immigrants" pollute the drinking water of the Hong People crisis" has to address the from China entering Hong Kong, a Kong people. Nor do they believe that concerns deeply felt by the Hong Kong policy of "immediate repatriation" was the government is taking their Kong people. As an August 1989 instituted between Hong Kong and legitimate concerns seriously. Instead, survey indicated, about two thirds of China. In other words, if a person the government is taking orders the Hong Kong people urged the Hong from China who is not a legal resident directly from the UK to improve the Kong government not to approve of Hong Kong is caught by the Hong living conditions for the Vietnamese additional funding for building new Kong police in their routine checks of Boat People so as to appease the refugee camps and that an even greater identity papers (every Hong Kong UNHCR and the international portion of them would like the Hong resident by law has to carry hidher community to distract from the Kong government to "press" the British identity card for inspection when criticism of the inhumane txeatment of government to end the policy of asked to produce it by the police) he or the refugees. making Hong Kong the first port of she will be immediately sent back to The Hong Kong people not only asylum, even though they realized that China. There are cases of relatives had feelings, they acted. Their their "opinion and effort" would be a and/or family members of Hong Kong concerted efforts included a sit-in, futile exercise. However, without residents, who bypassed the "normal demonstrations, camping on the addressing their concerns directly, process" of obtaining immigrant visas, proposed refugee camp site for nine efforts and measures taken to ease the being sent back to China. For days (they were ultimately removed plight of the Vietnamese Boat People in example, in August 1989 a legal by the police). Their suggestion of an Hong Kong, particularly those resident of Hong Kong went on a alternate site failed to convince the currently in "closed centres," would hunger strike to protest the government to change the decision. merely fall on "deaf ears." The reason government's decision not to allow his As such, they felt that not only was is that administrators and workers son to stay with him in Hong Kong. their legitimate concern totally running these camps are themselves This case, once vividly reported in the ignored, but, more importantly, the Hong Kong people who share and media, has intensified the feeling of "interest and welfare" of the identify with the concerns of the rest of injustice which was aptly reflected and Vietnamese Boat People was Hong Kong. Ultimately, it is captured by the following statement: unreasonably given priority. conceivable that the Vietnamese Boat ''We spend millions of dollars for the Combined with these various People (especially the women and Vietnamese Boat People, why can't we factors, media reports depicting children) may become the scapegoats afford to accept this little boy?!" criminal activities of Vietnamese Boat and victims. 3) Location of camps: In an effort to People, and saying that the latter were alleviate the overcrowded conditions given priority in medical treatment Lawrence Lam teaches sociology at Yo r k in the refugee camps, particularly in (reluctantly admitted by one clinic University.

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