CODE 18-77
140
1
Mr Stimson
RESTRICTED
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
Reference
HKK 243/1
DRIVE IN REGISTRY NO. 51 17 JAN1979
'on
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1. This morning I attended a meeting called by the Home Offied to discuss with other Government Departments and British voluntary organizations (BCAR and the Ockenden Vertake the implications of the Home Secretary's decision. to. ami 1,500——— Vietnamese "boat refugees" to the UK and the ability of the voluntary agencies to cope with the reception and resettlement of them. A number of points emerged of interest to the FCO.
2.
The bulk of the refugees would be admitted during the financial year 1979/80. Nevertheless, it might be possible for the voluntary agencies to admit during March a fairly large group of about 200. This they will confirm to the Home Office. It was thought that about 100 per month could be admitted from April.
3. I confirmed our understanding that the UNHCR would meet the travel costs involved in moving refugees to the UK, the physical arrangements being made by ICEM. BCAR said they hoped the refugees would not have to sign undertakings to repay to ICEM in due course the cost of their journeys. Apparently, most of the Vietnamese refugees here had been required to do so and this had caused some considerable concern, though it was made clear that ICEM did not put pressure on them to repay.
I said that since UNHCR would themselves be meeting the initial cost of refugees' journeys it would be for them to take up this matter with ICEM.. I said we would consider whether to ask the UNHCR to do this, but made no promises.
4.
1
The DHSS and the voluntary agencies said it would be helpful if the refugees could arrive in the UK armed with medical reports. Advance warning of any medical problem would be needed. One Vietnamese refugee, suffering from leprosy, had arrived recently at Heathrow Airport. The case was dealt with efficiently and there was no publicity but it was a lesson for the future.
5. The Home Office and the voluntary agencies at this stage envisage setting up two large reception centres, each to cope with about 350 refugees. One might be in London, possibly at Kensington Barracks, and another in the Midlands. The refugees would be housed there for an initial period only prior to dispersal throughout the country.
6. The Home Office wish to be selective with regard to those refugees to be admitted. A knowledge of English would be desirable and marketable skills probably essential. The Home Office and the voluntary agencies will liaise over this. The Home Office Immigration Department think they may send someone to Hong Kong next month to process applicants there. They will consider further how to deal with applicants from both Malaysia and Thailand. In answer to a question from the Home Office, I said our intention was that the 1,500 to be admitted to the UK should be "boat refugees" as opposed to "land cases".
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