There is therefore an urgent need to maintain and further strengthen the momentum of resettlement, in order to ease the suffering of refugees in camps and to ensure that temporary asylum continues to be provided. In this regard, the communiqué issued following the recent Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Singapore emphasize that the granting of first refuge by their countries depends on the commitment of resettlement countries to admit Indo-Chinese, and the avoidance of a residual problem in the ASEAN countries. I should therefore like to outline below the ways in which I hope that the United Kingdom might contribute to a renewed resettlement effort, in order to help ensure that all Indo-Chinese refugees are offered the continued protection of countries of first asylum and an equal chance of securing a durable solution.
I should therefore like to outline below those areas where I would hope that the United Kingdom could concentrate its resettlement effort, in order to ensure that all groups of Indo-Chinese are offered the continued protection of countries of first asylum and an equal chance at securing a durable solution.
It is well known that the United Kingdom's resettlement programme has over the past years made significant impact on the situation of Vietnamese boat people, particularly those who landed in Hong Kong. I understand that the United Kingdom has resettled some 16,500 Indo-Chinese refugees since 1975, including refugees rescued on the high seas by United Kingdom vessels and persons who have arrived directly from Viet Nam under the Orderly Departure Programme, as well as 10,000 refugees resettled from Hong Kong since 1979 alone.
While the caseload of Vietnamese boat people has decreased, it is nontheless essential that their resettlement be maintained in order to preclude any buildup in the caseload. I am certain you will share my particular concern for the situation in Hong Kong, which continues to have the largest number of boat people in the region. The Hong Kong caseload numbered 10,763 on 30 June 1982. I have approached other resettlement countries with a request for specific quotas on behalf of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong, and I am compelled to appeal to your Government to establish a new programme for Hong Kong.
My field officers have also indicated that it would be most helpful if the United Kingdom would agree to liberalize to the greatest extent possible the criteria for family reunification applied in respect of Indo-Chinese refugees in camps in South-East Asia. It remains crucial that refugees with relatives in the United Kingdom be enabled to join them there, rather than having to wait many months, or even years, for resettlement in a country where they have no ties whatsoever.