THE BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
Chairman: SIR ARTHUR PETERSON, KCB, MVO.
Vice Chairmen:
SIR LESLIE KIRKLEY, CBE
KENNETH LEE
Honorary Treasurers: A. H. CHAPMAN, FCA H. A. SHAW, OBE
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BONDWAY HOUSE,
3/9, BONDWAY, LONDON, SW8 1SJ.
Telephone: 01-582 6922
Cables: BREFCON, LONDON, SWB.
Director: MARTIN BARBER, Ph. D.
MB/JP
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i) cc Mr Houre HRGD (see minute onleaf)
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platter to pre metervallan pemagillar
HITIT 243/3
HO.S
MICER
22 September 1982
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Dear Tony
Thank you for your letter of 27 August enclosing copies of the letters from Wells Klein to Mr Hartling and yourself.
I must admit I am surprised by the vehemence of ACVA's opposition to the new policy in Hong Kong and would question ACVA's analysis on some points:
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I understand that the Hong Kong authorities' decision to establish closed camps followed their assessment that substantial numbers of Vietnamese were heading particularly for Hong Kong as conditions there were known to be greatly superior to those in other South East Asian countries.
Conditions in the closed Hong Kong camps would still appear to be at least as good as conditions in camps in any other South East Asian country. Specifically I understand that there is no bar on applications for resettlement in third countries, such as has been implemented in Thailand.
On the question of repatriation, ACVA's suggestion that Vietnamese "may be sent back as fast as they arrive" seems frankly alarmist. It is unconceivable that the Hong Kong authorities would decide to repatriate all Vietnamese arrivals and in the unlikely event that such a decision were reached, I am quite certain that the British Government would persuade them to think again.
UNHCR has paid the full cost in Thailand of camps that offer considerably less good conditions than those in Hong Kong.
The remark "initially a doctor will visit Chimawan every other week" would appear to refer to the provision of family planning facilities. I understand that regular basic medical services are provided full time by a team from the Salvation Army.
The question about unaccompanied minors appears to be unrelated to the issue of closed camps, and I am unclear about the situation re their settlement in the United States.
(continued)
Registered under the Charities Act 1960 No. 283993
The British Refugee Council incorporates the British Council for Aid to Refugees and the Standing Conference on Refugees
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