CONFIDENTIAL
C.
d.
e.
It will take until the end of 1982 to empty reception
centres of those refugees received under the current
programme. Obtaining housing from local authorities has
been a problem and any further quota would be resisted by local authorities;
Relaxation of criteria for family reunification would
marginally increase our open-ended commitment. Moreover, any increase in the number of refugees admitted to the UK
in itself raises the risk of further reunification
admissions;
Costs. The Vietnamese refugees so far taken in by the
UK are expected to have cost £21.6 million by the end of
1982-3; arguably more expenditure will be required in
1983-4- The main ongoing cost arises from the inability
of these refugees to find work and to fit into our
society; over four fifths of those here are unemployed,
and rely on social security benefits.
Conclusion
5. The acceptance of even a small additional number of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong would be a major contribution to UK/Hong Kong relations at a time of political sensitivity. A ceiling could be put on a quota or admissions could, if necessary, be limited to the categories listed in option (b).
CONFIDENTIAL