A
CONFIDENTIAL
NKB
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Mike Hanson
Refugee Coordinator Security Branch
Hong Kong
Doar Mike дват
Telephone 01-
FILE
243/15
25
AY 1990
27012652
Your reference
Our reference
Date
11 April 1990
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: UNACCOMPANIED MINORS
1.
As you are no doubt aware, David Alton MP acts as a kind of spokesman for a number of religious groups interested in the boat people issue. They have been particularly concerned with the arrangements for unaccompanied minors: one of the groups which has been in touch with us on a regular basis on this has been the Tear Fund.
2. I attach a copy of a letter from the Rev David Applin suggesting a possible candidate who might work as a kind of observer to the Committee on Unaccompanied Minors. Recalling Anne Dawson-Shepherd's opposition to the involvement of World Relief, I foresee some difficulty in putting this idea to UNHCR. I should nevertheless be grateful for your advice on how best we might tackle this one: it would be presentationally useful if we could arrange some sort of role for the Tear Fund or its
representatives, and if I could be forthcoming in my reply to the Rev Applin.
3. I should also be grateful for a candid assessment of the activities of the Evangelical Alliance et al. They are clearly keen to step up their work in the camps; I have made it clear that they could not hope to enjoy priveleged access over groups from other denominations or even other relgions. I pointed out that the traditional religion of a majority of the boat people was buddhism, and that they might consider teaming up with buddhist groups so that the assistance they could give to the boat people would be well coordinated. I am not sure at what point diverse religious groups working in close proximity achieve critical mass.
Yours ever
Charlos
CD Haswell
Hong Kong Department
PTZALK
CONFIDENTIAL