Patrons
THE MARCHIONESS OF ABERGAVENNY
THE VISCOUNTESS ASTOR
MISS INGRID BERGMAN
SIR F RT BIRLEY, K.C.M.G.
MR.
HAN COLLINS
THEY HARDING
THE EARL OF LONGEORD, P.C.
THE COUNTESS OF MARCH
MR. GORDON MAXWELL.J.P.
DAME ANNA NEAGLE
MR. TIMOTHY RAISON, M.P.
SIR ARTHUR RUCKER, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.B.E.
THE OCKENDEN
ENTURKI
(INCORPORATING LIFELINE)
OCKENDEN, GUILDFORD ROAD, WOKING, SURREY GU22 7UU TEL. WOKING 72012/3
MAJOR THERE. HON. LORD) ST. OSWALD, M.C., D.L..
MR. RICHARD TODD
THE REV. DR. ALEC VIÐLER
REGISTERED UNDER THE CHARITIES ACT 1960. No. 200551
Home, Health and Education for Displaced and Refugee Children and Young People at Home and Overseas
Chairman of the Comcil; THE RT. HON, DAVID FNNALS. M.P., P.C. Vice-Chairman: THE RT. HON, CHRISTOPHER CHATAWAY,P.C. Executive Chairman: MISS JOYCE PEARCE, M.B.E., M.A. Hon. Treasurer: MR. MICHAEL ATKINSON
Executive Committee
MR. PETER BETTERIDGE DR. GEORGE BRAM
MR. STEPHEN COOKE
MISS MARGARET DIXON, BA
MISS RUTH HIGKS, B SC.
MR. DENNIS LAMBERT, FRICS COL RONALD MENDAY, M BE, M.C. MISS MARY TANNER
MR. PHILIP VANCE
JP/KEG
Mr CE Leeks
Security Branch
Government Secretariat
Lower Albert Road
Hong Kong
Dear Mr Leeks
·
HKIVR jee /cc FCO/HKD
/нко
17 October 1983
был
(for our HOARE
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19.10.83
Thank you for your letter of the 6th October which I found waiting for me on my return from Geneva, where I had been attend- ing meetings on the problems of unaccompanied minors in South East Asia.
The situation is now a frightening one as it is estimated that there are nearly 4,000 young children and young people in a situa- tion similar to the one you have in Hong Kong. I discussed with colleagues in other voluntary agencies working in this field the possibility of setting up programmes in Asia for some of these children. We also considered ways in which some can be brought to Western countries.
Ockenden itself has for 30 years had a programme of supporting refugee children in group homes; we feel very strongly that the policy which puts any children other than infants from an alien culture straight into a Western foster home is ill advised. The pressures of adjustment are too great for the average child; the problems of those between the ages of 12 and 15 in adjusting to a totally different life style are enormous; for those between the ages of 15 and 16 I would say it is almost impossible. Ockenden is prepared only to receive such children to this country on a group home basis. Save the Children. Fund has accepted the same philosophy. Therefore, to bring a larger number of teenagers to this country could present considerable problems of adjustment and ideed, dis- cipline and I doubt whether a normal group home situation would be tenable for them. even if the Home Office were to give permission for them to come.