1
Background Note (re Petition to Princess Anne by
Meeting Point (NT West Office))
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Arrival intake of Vietnamese Refugees from Hong Kong by 4 major resettlement countries (see attached table).
The UNHCR has primary responsibility for the resettlement of refugees in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Government works closely with the local UNHCR and the consulates and commissions of the main resettlement countries to promote resettlement opportunities. This effort is matched by the British Government's own efforts on our behalf in London and in Foreign capitals.
The British Government itself has a continuing resettlement programme operating on Hong Kong's behalf. On 8 May 1987, the Home Secretary, Mr. Douglas Hurd, announced HMG's decision to accept a further 468 refugees from Hong Kong for resettlement in UK, under relaxed family reunion criteria, at a rate of 20 per month, spread over 2 years. The offtake started in July last year. 320 have been resettled so far.