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"country of first choice" for a considerable number of those who have been resettled there, and many have experienced difficulties in adapting to the way of life in Britain. These problems were recognised in a report published on 18 April 1985 by the Sub-Committee (of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee) on Race Relations and Immigration (SCORRI), which had conducted an inquiry into the question of refugees and asylum with special
SCORRI identified a need to references to the Vietnamese.
revitalise the international resettlement programme, laying particular emphasis on reducing the disproportionate burden borne by Hong Kong. The report, while acknowledging Britain's good record of accepting refugees and noting the related problems, nevertheless recommended that the United Kingdom should widen her immigration criteria for family reunion cases. It also urged Britain to encourage the governments of other traditional resettlement countries to make a collective effort to reduce substantially Hong Kong's long-term refugee problem.
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The British Governemnt published its response to the SCORRI report in a White Paper on 26 September 1985, accepting virtually all the recommended measures. It was agreed to resettle in the United Kingdom some 500 Vietnamese refugees mainly from Hong Kong, whose kinship with refugees already in Britain was not sufficiently close to merit admittance under existing rules. addition to family reunion cases, Britain undertook to consider accepting a share of those who have proved difficult to resettle and who have spent years in Hong Kong's transit accommodation; a final decision will be taken in the light of the willingness shown by other resettlement countries to respond to Hong Kong's needs.
around 1,000 Britain's diplomatic effort had had encouraging results; over 700 additional places have been pledged by the countries approached. Australia has offered 200 extra resettlement places and there have been positive responses from Canada, Finland, the netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden. The Hong Kong Government has agreed to accept for permanent resettlement a quota of 250 refugees, concentrating selection on people whose alternative resettlement opportunities
are limited.
Not relevant to SCORRI More topt?
1. The United Kingdom is among those countries which contribute
/funds
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