E.R.
DRAFT
Confdential
IMMIGRATION: FOREIGN NATIONALS
VIETNAMESE & CAMBODIAN REFUGEES: APPROACH TO HIG BY UNHCR.
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1. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has sent a telegram
to HM Government which refers to the general situation of refugees from
Vietnam and Cambodia and estimates their number at "..well over 100,000"
The High Commissioner goes on to point out that many of the refugees
have been granted admission to neighbouring countries on a temporary
basis only and that they therefore require countries of durable settlemer
as soon as possible. His officials are at present assessing the
magnitude and composition of the caseload in the various countries
where the refugees are now are and he undertakes to inform those
governments he is now approaching so that some solution may be produced
in the case of those for whom voluntary repatriation would not be approp-
riate.
2.
The High Commissioner asks, as a matter of urgency, for some indica-
tion from H Government of how many of these refugees could be offered
durable settlement here. On the basis of the reply which is given, his
office would present specific proposals for consideration.
3% The purpose of this submission is to outline the information which
is so far available on the subject with a view to producing a proposed
reply to the High Commissioner's request for information which is now awaited. I
I
cant follow this. Rebels senothing has been
omitted.
4. On 6 April a charter aircraft arrived from Saigon at Heathrow
carrying 99 Vietnamese children and several accompanying Vietnamese
adults; Ministers had agreed that the Vietnamese should be admitted as
refugees on the basis of an undertaking of long-term responsibility for
them given by the Ockenden Venture, a constituent member of the British
Council for Aid to Refugees.....
Confidential.