From: James Boyden MP
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA OAA
54 July, 1971
Dear Evan,
I am writing to follow up my letter of 5 April and your reply of 19 April about the refugees from Indo-China.
At a recent meeting of the Europe Committee, members were very concerned that refugees are still experiencing great difficulty in finding temporary asylum in countries of South East Asia and permanent settlement opportunities elsewhere.
One of the most serious situations is evidently that of passengers on the "Leap Dal" who have been refused temporary asylum in Thailand and for whom insufficient opportunities have been offered by other countries.
We also now hear that some passengers on the "Roland" who have disembarked temporarily in Malaysia, where they will not be allowed to stay permanently, are still seeking settlement opportunities.
We understand that the British Government has agreed to consider applications from any on the "Leap Dal" who are "boat people" within the original quota of 95 for which well over 100 applications have been received - but there are apparently only eight refugees who fall into this category.
Although we fully realise the difficulties and, in many ways, the unsuitability, of settling refugees from Indo-China in this country, I am writing now at the request of members to ask whether, in view of the desperate situation of some of these refugees, the UK Government could agree to extend the quota, not only numerically but also to include some of those on the Roland and the Leap Dal who do not fall under the category of "boat people" but are nevertheless in an equally difficult situation.
I very much hope that HM Government will deal sympathetically with this matter and for humanitarian reasons alone will allow more of these unfortunate people to enter the country.
Evan Luard Esq MP
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From
Chairman, Europe Committee Standing Conference on Refugees
Under Secretary of State FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
London SW1
Rec. and
MVD
ck.- 6 JUL 1917
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for draft repu̸y
Bom
tw. Luard....
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