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:
(c) Regional Integration
UNHCR prefer this to more distant
resettlement.
But Hong Kong's
neighbours have refugee problems of their Own and would not welcome
any additional burden. Thailand, which has absorbed
has ruled out the possibility of absorbing any more.
some refugees,
(d) Increased Resettlement
We
should continue to encourage directly and through UNHCR, to
the reasons
in
other resettlement countries, both
But, for
There are three possible
take more.
para 11 above, we shall have difficulty. options which might be considered:
(i) The UK might take a further quota.
Our efforts to persuade
other countries
to take more are unlikely to
be effective until we can show that we are willing to take more
evidence that they are looking to the UK
ourselves.
There
is
for a gesture. (The present SCORRI enquiry into Vietnamese refugees
is addressing this question.) Clearly a prerequisite for any
successful campaign to increase off take elsewhere i s
admit more refugees here, preferably on a continuing quota.
agreement to
(ii) Training schemes
UNHCR Consider that resettlement prospects would improve if refugees
acquired the skills needed to work
to work in industrialised societies. The
Hong Kong Government have already devoted considerable attention and
resources to providing training opportunities. They seek to provide
educational and vocational training, with emphasis on English, in
all the government-run refugee centres. The voluntary agencies run
similar programmes in the open centres.
the Hei Ling Chau closed
centre, which is for North Vietnamese
and where as a result the
potential integration problems are
In
resettlement rate i s lowest and
greater, the Hong Kong Government intends with UNHCR assistance to
provide a special multi-purpose training centre.
It will be
funded
Relief
Its
by UNHCR (total cost US$40, 000) and will be run by the World
voluntary agency.
It should be operational by mid-1985.
purpose will be to prepare Vietnamese refugees for overseas
resettlement by teaching them basic manufacturing skills and use of
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