You raise three other points in your letter;
resettlement in the UK; repatriation to Vietnam of those who do not meet the criteria of refugees; and aid to
Vietnam.
First, resettlement. I note what your report says
It is understandable about our resettlement efforts.
is a
that people in Hong Kong would like us to do more. However, I believe that our resettlement record since
1975 almost 13,000 refugees from Hong Kong
creditable one. At present we are taking some 20
In addition we are refugees from Hong Kong per month. taking an increasing number of refugees from Vietnam
All this puts
under the Orderly Departure Programme.
conisderable demands on our local resources and I regret
that I see no scope under present circumstances for any
increase in the speed of resettlement.
Your report
rightly brings out the enormous difficulties involved in resettlement of Vietnamese people in Britain: it must therefore be right to proceed in accordance with our
ability to absorb these new arrivals.
In addition, as
you know, we are persisting in our efforts to persuade other resettlement countries which do not perhaps face the same immigration pressures as we do to do more to
help. We will continue to take every opportunity to
press the case for resettlement as energetically as we
can.
Secondly, repatriation.
At the time of his
announcement in May 1987, the Home Secretary referred to
C