GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD, HONG KONG, JULY, 1979. (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.)

to about 3,100. (See app. II.) The principal reason for the decreased arrivals in first-asylum countries was the Vietnam moratorium on assisting the departure of its people, as a result of international criticism and concern which culminated in July 1979, at the U.N.-convened international conference on Indochinese refugees in Geneva.

Despite the extensive international efforts of resettling over 254,000 refugees since August 1977, over 284,000 refugees remained in camps of first-asylum countries at the end of 1979. International organizations and third countries are still attempting resettlement for those remaining in the camps.

NOVEMBER, 1979.

INTERIOR SCENE OF LIVING QUARTERS AT GALANG REFUGEE CAMP,
INDONESIA. NOVEMBER, 1979.

ATTITUDES OF COUNTRIES

OF FIRST ASYLUM

The principal countries to which Indochinese refugees flee are Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. The attitudes of these countries about receiving and providing temporary asylum, or resettling refugees has varied widely. Although some countries viewed the large number of arrivals as a threat to their security and racial balances, others followed a policy of according temporary asylum largely on the strength of the humanitarian aspects of the problem.

During the major influx of refugees during early and mid-1979, refugees were often denied entry to some of these countries. In some cases, boats carrying refugees were pushed off and towed back out to sea. Although the total number of those refused entry is not known, a UNHCR official estimated that between January and October 1979, some 17,000 were denied entry in one country. In mid-1979, these countries relaxed their no-admittance policies, largely due to the decrease in the refugee population that resulted from increased resettlements and fewer arrivals.

Attitudes toward refugee resettlement within first-asylum countries also vary. Fundamentally, the countries of Southeast Asia do not accept these refugees for resettlement except

in limited numbers and under unusual circumstances--reunification of families or religious links. These attitudes are influenced largely by consideration of racial balances and population levels within these countries.

Indonesia does not accept refugees for resettlement but does afford temporary asylum for refugees pending their onward movement to resettlement countries. Hong Kong has resettled less than 300 refugees and has no plans to settle more. Unlike the other countries, the Hong Kong Government has substantially funded the cost of caring for its refugees--spending $14 million for this purpose between January and October 1979. Of the Indochinese refugees reportedly resettled between August 1977 and December 1979, over half went to the United States, as indicated below.

Refugees entered the United States primarily under two provisions of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA): conditional entry and parole. The conditional-entry provision authorizes the annual admmission of a maximum of 17,400 refugees who flee from Communist countries or the Middle East because of persecution or who are victims of natural disasters. The parole provision authorizes the Attorney General, at his discretion, to temporarily parole aliens into the United States under prescribed conditions. The parole provision can be used in emergencies or for reasons in the public interest. Refugees entering the United States on parole are selected on the basis of a priority system. Because of its flexibility, it has been used on many occasions to admit groups of refugees who would otherwise be ineligible for admission because of limitations of the conditional-entry provision.

Two actions under the parole provision were authorized during 1979. On April 13, the Attorney General authorized the parole of 40,000 Indochinese refugees to be admitted through September 30, 1979. In July 1979, the United States announced that it would admit 14,000 Indochinese refugees a month--or 210,000 for the 15-month period from July 1, 1979,

to September 30, 1980. The Attorney General authorized the C parole for the announced 14,000 monthly rate on October 18, 1979.

The Refugee Act of 1980 (1) raises the annual limitation on conditional-entry refugee admission to 50,000; (2) redefines and clarifies the application of the term, "refugee"; and (3) provides procedures for meeting emergency situations if resettlement needs cannot be met within the 50,000 ceiling. ROLE OF THE UNHCR

Since July 1975, the UNHCR has been the international focal point for mobilizing resources and for efforts in resolving the Indochinese refugee problem. One of its most important responsibilities is the international protection of refugees. The UNHCR encourages governments to follow liberal practices in opening their frontiers to refugees and in granting them temporary asylum. Stressing that the problem is one of international concern, the UNHCR also encourages other nations to provide contributions and resettlement offers.

The UNHCR also provides financial assistance for the care of refugees through governments of asylum countries and voluntary agencies. This assistance includes support for food, water, shelter, medical care, supplies, education, and selfsufficiency projects. In addition, the UNHCR coordinates assistance from voluntary agencies which provide relief supplies and services. The UNHCR follows three basic approaches to solving the refugee problem: (1) voluntary repatriation, (2) local integration in first-asylum countries, and (3) resettlement in third countries.

Voluntary repatriation is the most desirable solution to the refugee problem, provided conditions in countries of origin make it possible. Repatriation to Kampuchea and Vietnam is not viable at present because of government hostility in those countries to the refugees. However, the UNHCR is exploring such a program with Laos. As noted earlier, first-asylum country governments are not generally receptive to local integration.

Since the Indochinese refugee problem began, permanent resettlement has been the most workable solution. The UNHCR has sought to bring the Indochinese refugee problem to the world's attention in the hope of finding new homes for the refugees. In the asylum countries, the UNHCR coordinates and assists the resettlement efforts of the United States and other nations. For permanent resettlement in most countries