-5-
a) Dislike of reeducation programme, cooperatives, etc.; reluctance to
accept change.
b) Loss of liberty, slow pressure on certain categories - particularly those
connected with former regime; employers of labour outside the family;
discrimination in professional life.
c) Fall in standard of living because of withdrawal of USA and the result of
thirty years of war.
d) Currency restrictions, general reorganisation of industry affecting small
traders, etc.
Although the exodus was not altogether due to the policy of the Vietnamese Government which did not actively prevent people from leaving, this discrimination e.g. in professional life could be counted as persecution. The Government was also reluctant to receive back any who wished to return e.g. the 1000 from Guan.
British ships were responding well. Recently 42 refugees had been taken to Taiwan with a guarantee that they would be settled in UK but most often had chosen to go to Canada.
The present situation was that 61 boat people were waiting in Hong Kong; 26 of these were expected in UK shortly, the others would have to wait for reception facilities. This was an example of the need for a permanent centre.
A letter from the Home Office dated 31 August was circulated, showing the numbers accepted: 258 boat people (of whom some 170 had arrived)
203 others with special connections with this country
In addition 331 already in UK in 1975 had been allowed to remain.
There was discussion on whether the United Kingdom was responding adequately on humanitarian grounds or whether the voluntary agencies should appeal to HMG to accept more on a special programme as for the Chileans.
The following points were made:
a) Ockenden Venture
b)
c)
d)
-
Miss Pearce reported on the present position. Ockenden and the British Council for Aid to Refugees had been responsible for the 170 boat people so far.
Ockenden had programmes for families in Barmouth, Birmingham and were planning for Dewsbury and Wolverhampton. The chilaren nad settled in well at school, most breadwinners in Birmingham nad jobs and three in Barmouth were on training schemes. There were language and other problems with some (partic- ularly the women and older men) but on the whole the refugees were settling down, even though they had not been specially selected and some were from a very simple background.
The British Council for Aid to Refugees had received groups of Indo-Chinese at centres in London. Some had moved on to Ockenden for resettlement programmes.
Funds had been allocated by VSU to help with reception and resettlement.
Government Funding It would be difficult for the voluntary agencies to accept increased numbers without some Government funds but eriorts could be made to increase reception and resettlement facilities. It was expected that the SCUR Joint Reception Centre scheme would help here.
་
Local Authorities - Little responsibility was taken by the local authorities, except for education and even in this it was necessary to employ special teachers at the outset because of language difficulties.
.../0