E.R.
staff and run these reception centres, with their costs being
met from Government funds.
I pay full tribute to the part played by B.C.A.R. in this developing
situation. Successive Governments have been accustomed to look
to B.C.A.R. not only for help in looking after the refugees
themselves but also for assistance in co-ordinating the
approach of the voluntary agencies to refugee situations generally. On 3B.C.A.R. therefore fell the initial burden of
carrying these two roles during the carly stages of the
Vietnamese refugee programme. In addition to its co-ordinating task, B.C.A.R. began to specialise in operating large reception
centres for the 'boat people'. It opened the first of the large
reception centres at Kensington Barracks. It later took
responsibility for other large centres at Sopley and Thorney
Island. As the numbers grew, Save the Children Fund and the Ockenden Venture also became involved in the reception and resettlement arrangements. 3.C.A.R., under the leadership of Kenneth Lee, took the initiative in setting up an ad hoc committee to co-ordinate those arrangements. In this way, foundations were laid on which, later in the summer, it was
/possible for