FR.
bear on Vietnam. That said, we could not expect this to be either quick or easy. There should however be some movement during the next couple of weeks when the question of sending aid through the UNHCR to Vietnam to help with reintegration would be discussed.
4.
In response to a question from Lord Glenarthur, Ms Dale said that the acceptance of refugees was not solely dependent upon the capacity of resettlement agencies to cope. They could indeed cope with the current quota of 40 a month for the initial phase of resettlement. The problems began to arise after three or four months when they moved out of reception centres and began to make calls on public sector housing, the case for over 20,000 refugees since the mid 70s. In areas inhabited by large number of Vietnamese refugees, up to 80% were unemployed This led Lord Glenarthur to question whether the United Kingdom should not opt for the skills criteria demanded by other Western countries, notably Canada. It was very dispiriting for people to arrive here without any skills or qualifications and therefore few prospects. Mr Renton said that the United Kingdom policy towards refugees was not skills orientated. If asylum applicants satsified the criteria laid down in the Convention they were accepted as refugees. Mr Flesher added that in the case of Vietnamese refugees we had previously opted for family reunion whereas if we did agree to accept more refugees there might be a possibility of 'talent spotting'. Ms Dale said that the picture for Vietnamese refugee children was very mixed, some were very bright, but many lived in deprived areas which in turn affected their expectations and their prospects.
5. Lord Glenarthur went on to question the scope for arranging sponsorship schemes specifically for Vietnamese refugees by individuals or groups. He personally received many letters from individuals or groups offering sponsorhsip. There had been much media coverage of late and there was a general recognition of some responsibility towards Hong Kong. Mr Flesher said that this was not a particularly high profile issue and Mr Renton wondered whether there was much sympathy for the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong with the charities given that Hong Kong was doing extremely well. Perhaps the FCO could address the possibility of approaching those companies with major links in Hong Kong?
6. Lord Glenarthur said that he was visiting Hong Kong in June where the issue of refugees was likely to be near the top of the agenda. He would very much like to give them some good news and what he was really looking for was the continuation of the present family reunion programme beyond the 468. This would take the form of an additional 200 who met the normal criteria, the rate of acceptance would be increased to 30 a month to fulfil the
Smaly mor.