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THE BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
Vice Chairmen:
Chairman: SIR ARTHUR PETERSON, KCB, MVO.
SIR LESLIE KIRKLEY, CBE
KENNETH LEE
Honorary Treasurers: A. H. CHAPMAN, FCA H. A. SHAW, OBE
BONDWAY HOUSE,
3/9, BONDWAY, LONDON, SW8 15J.
Telephone: 01-582 6922
Cables: BREFCON, LONDON, SW8.
MB/JP
Director. MARTIN BARBER, Ph. D.
Toee S for and HK GD
5 October 1982
NOTE
Fabled at BRC Asia Committee
1
19.10.82
Dear Home Secretary
J-Bu 5.11.82
I understand that the government may still be considering a possible response to the appeals from both the Hong Kong government and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for the United Kingdom to offer additional help in resettling Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. I understand also that the question may have been raised with the Prime Minister during her recent visit to Hong Kong.
The British Refugee Council would like to put forward two ideas in this regard. First, a broadening of the criteria on which family reunion cases are admitted from Hong Kong and other countries of first asylum would satisfy the humanitarian needs of refugees in this country desperate for family members to be allowed to join them, and would respond to the appeals for a further intake from S.E. Asia. Secondly, I understand that there may be up to 100 unaccompanied Vietnamese children in Hong Rong who have no adult relatives to stay with, either in Hong Kong or in the various countries of resettlement. I am authorised by the Ockenden Venture and Save the Children Fund to offer places for 40 such children, subject to pre-selection from dossiers presented by UNHCR, (20 to be sponsored by each agency). Most of the children are aged between 12 and 15 years. Those accepted by Ockenden Venture would be housed in Barmouth or Surrey and those by SCF in Hampton Court House. conditions would be those which already apply to the children now being looked after by SCF at Hampton Court.
The
We feel that two gestures of this kind would demonstrate the concern of the government for the plight of the most vulnerable of the refugees in Hong Kong and give support to Hong Kong's efforts to lighten its burden.
Yours sincerely
Sir Arthur Peterson
Chairman
The Rt Bon William Whitelaw, MP
Secretary of State for the Home Office
Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT
Registered under the Charities Act 1960 No. 283993
The British Refugee Council incorporates the British Council for Aid 10 Refugees and the Standing Conference on Refugees