CONFIDENTIAL
GR 450
MFIDENTIAL
FM MVD 291227Z JAN 79
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER VISA 045 OF 29 JANUARY
AND TO BANGKOK KUALA LUMPUR
VIETNAMESE BOAT REFUGEES
HKK RECEIVED IN
INDEX
no
243/1
PA
2
264.
1. AS YOU KNOW UK HAS UNDERTAKEN TO ADMIT 1500 BOAT REFUGEES WITHIN THE NEXT FIFTEEN MONTHS, 1000 FROM HONG KONG, 250 FROM MALAYSIA
AND ANOTHER 250 FROM THAILAND.
2. TO ARRANGE THE SELECTION OF THESE REFUGEES AND FOR THEIR
RECEPTION IN UK IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT MR COLIN BIRT A HOME
OFFICE SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER WILL VISIT YOU WITH MRS N V MORLEY-
FLETCHER, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL FOR AID TO
REFUGEES WHO WILL ACT IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY.
3. AS A GENERAL GUIDE THE SELECTION OF THESE REFUGEES WILL BE BASED
ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
1) THOSE WITH SOME KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH
T IN UK.
II) THOSE WITH SKILLS ENHANCING THEIR CHANCES OF EMPLOYMENT
III) THOSE WHO HAVE EITHER ALREADY EXPRESSED A WISH TO SETTLE
HERE OR THOSE WHO GENUINELY DESIRE TO DO SO.
IY) COMPLETE FAMILY GROUPS OR SINGLE FEMALES.
V) NOT TOO MANY CHRONIC SICK OR UNACCOMPANIED ELDERLY.
4. THE IDEA IS TO SELECT THOSE MOST LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM
SETTLEMENT IN UK ALTHOUGH IT IS ACCEPTED THAT THESE CRITERIA MAY
OVERLAP OR EVEN CONFLICT WITH EACH IN SOME CASES. IN ANTICIPATION
OF MR BIRT'S ARRIVAL WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR LOCAL UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE, YOU COULD ASSEMBLE AS MUCH DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE INCLUDING MEDICAL REPORTS ON A TOTAL OF
INDIVIDUAL REFUGEES EQUAL TO TWICE THE NUMBER OF THOSE TO BE
FINALLY SELECTED IE. 2000 IN HONG KONG, 500 IN MALAYSIA AND 500 IN THAILAND.
5. THE MOST LIKELY CASES SHOULD BE GATHERED IN TIME FOR MR BIRT'S
ARRIVAL WHO WOULD HOPE TO DO A PRELIMIARY SIFT ON THE BASIS OF THE
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ALONE AND SELECT A NUMBER WITHOUT FURTHER
INVESTIGATION. OF THE REMAINDER MR BIRT WOULD HOPE TO INTERVIEW
THE HEADS OF FAMILIES IN THE HOPE OF ENDING UP WITH TWO LISTS:- LIST (A) OF THOSE TO BE DEFINITELY ACCEPTED AND LIST (B) WHICH
WILL FORM A RESERVE FROM WHICH TO DRAW SHOULD SOME OF THE
SELECTED ONES LATER OPT OUT OR ACCEPT RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.OBVIOUSLY
Page 180Page 181