MAR 12 '88 11:47 TIBCOOU) HK GOVT
IR Indochina Resource Action Center IRAS
1118 Twenty Second Street, NW Sulte 300 • Washington, DC. 20037 • (202) 223-8866
February 2, 1988
Mr. Nigel French
Principal Assistant Secretary
for security
Security Branch
Government Secretariat, 6-F
HONG KONG
Dear Mr. French;
One year ago, a delegation from the Indochina Resource Action Center (IRAC) visited the refugee camps in Hong Kong. Mr, Ken Woodhouse and others graciously facilitated our visit, for which we are very grateful, Most important to us, however, is the hospitality and refuge that Hong Kong has granted to the tens of thousands of our compatriots who have found safe haven on their way to resettlement in various countries around the world.
We remain deeply concerned that the exodus of refugees Beeking freedom from the oppressive regimes in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam has continued unabated for more than twelve years. We are writing today to invite a representative from your country to join with a group of concerned people in a new challenge.
As you may remember, three weeks after the IRAC delegation's post-trip press conference on Capitol Hill, which brought Indochinese refugee issues to the attention of the 100th Congress (see attached press clipping), Senator Mark D. Hatfield and Congressman Chester G. Atkins introduced the "Indochinese Refugee Resettlement and Protection Act of 1987." IRAC and the Indochinese-Americans with whom we work mounted a national effort in support of the principles embodied in the Hetfield-3+king bill. with resultant grassroots public opinion behind him, U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz was moved to announce the United States' commitment at the June 1987 ASEAN meeting, "It's become clear to all of us that the refugee problem is an enduring one, and we must realize that solving it will be a long-term process....We [the U.S.] will continue to resettle refugees in substantial numbers."
On 12/22/87 · the "Indochinese Refugee Resettlement and Protection Act of 1987" passed the U.S. Congress and was signed by the President. Among other things, this new law provides a U.S. commitment to accept a minimum of 28,000 refugees from Indochina for the next three fiscal yeara. This particular provision is intended as a three-year planning period during which steps must be taken to resolve the situation.
With encouragement and support from key Members of the U.S. Congress and prominent individuals (see attached preliminary listing), IRAC is convening an international symposium on first
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