+
DSR 11C
to the 14500 displaced Indochinese who have been
Some 500 more refugees,
say
from
to
resettled in Hong Kong).
camps both in Hong Kong and elsewhere in South East Asia,
were admitted to the UK as a result of our decision
announced by the Home Secretary in September 1985 to
relax our present family reunion criteria. I am glad
that this initiative has encouraged other countries
to accept some 1200 more refugees from Hong Kong than
they might otherwise have done. In the light of this
encouraging response, the Hong Kong Government also
decided to resettle some 250 more refugees, drawn from
longest stayers in the refugee camps. As to
our intentions on the further resettlement here of
among the
Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong, I can assure you that
we are considering urgently what more might be done.
must, of course ensure
,
We
our that any further action on
part does not merely exacerbate the problem by
encouraging more departures from Vietnam.
We are
therefore looking closely at all possible durable
solutions (including resettlement) to the continuing sad
problem of refugees in South East Asia. We shall
continue to work to this end.
I am returning your constituent's
and have kept a copy for our files.
letter herewith,
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