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eventual repayment, ODP Vietnamese are not considered to be
strictly speaking 'refugees' under UNIICR's mandate, and they programme
funding meluching therefore needs separate financing, inter alia, of the an
expensive transport element. UNHCR estimate their 1982 costs
to be $3.75 million, of which nearly $3.2 million is for
transport.
by seven donors
Δ.
So far only $1.4 million has been fledged,
There are two arguments for direct UK support of this
First, its collapsed would prejudice the chances
programme.
of those to whom we have already offered settlement in the
UK of ever coming here. Secondly, although neither we nor
most recipient countires conceive of it (as the Vietnamese
do) as a potential channel for large scale emigration,
its continued existence makes it difficult for Vietnam
to justify a return to its policy of expulsion of its
unwanted population in 1979. Conversely its collapse
could expose Hong Kong to the danger of an uncontrolled
influx (and IIMG to acute pressure to offer another large
quota).
A
5.
Approximately 400 Vietnamese came to the UK in 1981
under the ODP, about 5% of the total movements. We did not
contribute to the 1981 costs. There are approximately
2,000 more Vietnamese whose applications to settle here
have been accepted by the Home Office, but it seems at present
unlikely that more than 20% will move during 1982.
Our pro
rata share of the 1982 budget would therefore be around
or
$100,000,/£55,000:
the recommended £75,000 includes an
element of rounding to which we could point as evidence
of our view that the programme has a political as well as
a humanitarian importance.
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