4.
Oxfam had agreed to finance paid by UNHCR.
-3-
cost of sanitation in the camps, the balance to be
ODM was sending aircraft with supplies.
The Burmese Red Cross had appealed to the League for medicines, etc. which were now being supplied.
Mr. Morrow referred to the dramatic change since he had heard a report from a YMCA worker in Bangladesh who had stressed the need for sanitation and had referred to resistance to plans for return.
At
In answer to questions from Lord Elton, Mr. Heidler said that of an estimated 190,000 - 200,000 refugees in Bangladesh, some 1115 had returned since August. first only "nationals'or "residents" could return now the policy was more liberal. It was expected that they could return to their own areas.
d)
B
Minute 8 Interest by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Mr. Philip Goodhart had been in touch with the representative of the Archbishop who had expressed his willingness to help in every way he could in connection with the Vietnamese refugees. As yet no reply had been received to his letter but Mr. Goodhart would send a reminder.
INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
a) Follow-up from last meeting
Between the meeting of the Asia Committee on 5 September and the present, the situation had changed considerably. Plans were now being made for the reception of more "boat people". It had not been thought necessary to hold a special meeting at that time to discuss arrangements. On 19 September, representatives of the FCO and the Home Office had met representatives of the British Council for Aid to Refugees and Ockenden, the main organisations responsible for receiving and resettling refugees.
b) Reception and Resettlement Arrangements
i) British Council for Aid to Refugees
She
Miss Jeanne Townsend gave a report on action for the group of 346 Vietnamese received at the Kensington Barracks and for smaller groups taken elsewhere. referred to the wide and sympathetic interest taken by all the media and the help given by the general public, particularly in giving clothing, toys, goods, etc. ILEA were helping with language classes and Government Departments had been helpful in arranging for social security, etc. Some Local Authorities had offered housing.
Many of the group had expressed wishes to go on to USA, and Australia; larger resettlement programmes might not therefore be necessary for all. received from Belgium, Canada, France and Switzerland.
Offers had been
There had been discussions about procedure for those wanting to go to USA and Australia. This was very difficult and might take many months.
If there were a chance for them to be moved, however, it was considered best to keep the group together in a Centre, such as Kensington Barracks which had some advantages - a central position, contact with the outside world, etc. There were already possibilities for those wishing to stay. Ten houses were available in Peterborough; smaller offers had been received from other areas.
ii)
The Ockenden Venture
Miss Pearce referred to discussions at the last meeting when the FCO had reported on IG s policy to take some of the "boat people" temporarily settled in Hong Kong. Ockenden were already resettling a group in one of its houses in
•/4