-4-
}
Dewsbury and offered to take up to 300.
Ockenden intended to encourage public intérest and settle groups in different parts of the country. She thought that the UK should take larger numbers from Hong Kong quite apart from those to whom they were already committed those picked up by British ships. She was preparing a statement on which to base a definite offer from Ockenden to the VSU of the Home Officd fo resettlement programme.
Lord Elton expressed interest in this plan and offered to raise a question in the House of Lords about Government policy.
Meeting in Geneva
On December 11/12, the UNHCR was holding a consultation with Governments to try and decide an international approach to the problem. It was hoped that many countries would make offers of resettlement.
FCO would like to be able to make a firm offer; this would be the decision of the Home Office but would also depend on offers by the voluntary agencies to receive and resettle groups.
iii) Boat People from Hong Kong - Mr. Patrick Morgan (FCO) reported.
The current problem in Hong Kong concerned "boat people"; other "refugees" in Hong Kong were considered as "illegal immigrants". Hong Kong was accepting them without guarantees, unlike other countries in South East Asia; consequently, more were landing there and help in resettling them was needed. HMG had responsibility there. So far 6159 had arrived; of these 2613 had been accepted elsewhere; 3546 were still awaiting offers. The numbers arriving exceeded those being moved on. If Hong Kong stopped its "open house" there would be a very serious situation.
FCO would like several hundred more to be accepted as soon as possible under
a "phased" arrangement but final dicision rested with the Home Office.
In discussion the following points were made:-
a)
The importance of English teaching was emphasised.
b)
c)
a)
e)
f)
C)
h)
Help from local people was very important The Chinese community in London had offered help; about half the group were of Chinese ethnic origin. Reference was made to the relationship between Vietnam and China. If these improved it might be that some Vietnamese of Chinese origin might go to China. This did not affect the "boat people" and it was probable that they would continue to leave in large numbers.
The increased flow since April 1978 was probably largely due to tougher conditions in Vietnam. In October, in spite of the monsoons, some 12, 200 had left by sea. Some thought the outflow might dry up because the supply of boats would end; others referred to a rumour that the Vietnam Government was encouraging them to leave.
The composition of the groups was being analysed for ethnic origins and for occupation. Many of those at Kensington Barracks were Chinese and the group included peasants, fishermen, doctors, pharacists and other professional people. Few spoke English or French. Many had been in prison. Planning of the escape had sometimes taken two years.
Some of the refugees in Hong Kong might be able to wait temporarily in Macau.
The FCO had discussed 1,000 were already there and it was a very small area.
with USA and an agreement had been drawn up. About another 400 would be accepted temporarily until offers of resettlement were received. Discussions were taking place about a possible central camp for boat people in South East Asia, perhaps on an island.
.../5