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Vietnam illegally.
e)
we already take "rehabilitated long-stayers" as many of those with family links are already long stayers.
Rate of resettlement in the UK
8.
In his minute of 15 March the Home Secretary expressed reluctance to consider stepping up the rate of intake of the present commitment of 468 refugees beyond 20 a month. There is probably no hope of accelerating implementation of the 468 commitment. But this
might not preclude an additional resettlement of, say, 10 a month if
a supplementary commitment can be secured. The Home Office will
certainly point to increasing arrivals under the Orderly Departure Programme as a reason for resisting any more substantial increase in
resettlement rate. (After a gap in departures from July 1986-April 1987 the rate of arrivals in the UK is now averaging about 20 a month. About 1,650 people still in Vietnam are known to be eligible for the ODP.)
The Way Ahead
9.
The following options indicate possible ways ahead. They are in ascending order of credibility in Hong Kong terms:
C
(a) A statement that HMG are prepared to consider extending their
present resettlement programme when it comes to an end ie a bland statement which does not carry any commitment;
(b) A statement which recognises that HMG have an obligation to assist Hong Kong to deal with the refugee problem and which
incorporates a commitment to extend the present resettlement
programme when it comes to an end;
(c)
(i)
(ii)
A commitment:
to extend the present programme of resettlement on family reunion criteria (about 200 places);
to resettle an additional group of "UK refusal cases"
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