TNAG-0587-FCO40-720-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 119

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REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA

Background Note

Introduction

1.

The takeover of South Vietnam by the Communists in April 1975 created a serious and continuing refugee problem demanding a solution on an international. basis. Some 250,000 refugees have already left Indo-China, and even now small numbers are still continuing to leave.

2. The bulk of the exodus from Indo-China occurred in the Spring and Summer of 1975. Some 139,000 went straight to America, France took over 17,000, Nicaragua approximately 15,000 and Canada over 5,500. Many of the refugees were forced to seek temporary refuge in varicus ports around South East Asia mainly Thailand and Hong Kong while awaiting permanent resettlement elsewhere.

Present Problem

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There are at present two types of refugee problem requiring assistance.

1.

2.

Those who have only recently left the Indo Chinese peninsular in small, often unseaworthy, craft who are arriving at various ports in South East Asia, usually after being rescued by passing ships. This involves about 900 refugees.

Those who have been granted temporary asylum in Thailand and who are in need of permanent resettlement elsewhere. This involves about 75,000 refugees.

4. Regarding the first category the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has received an appeal from the Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees to accept a number of such refugees who are in urgent need of permanent resettlement.

5. Regarding the second category the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have forwarded to the Home Office a request from the Standing Conference of British Organisations for Aid to Refugees that the United Kingdom accepts as a token gesture a limited group of Indo-Chinese refugees from Thailand: provided they had a reasonable knowledge of English.

Present Policy

6. Our present policy is based on the Home Secretary's reply on the 8 May 1975 to a written PQ that he was willing to admit refugees from Vietnam (this was later extended to include Cambodia and Laos) who had some previous connections with the United Kingdom. In practice "connection with the United Kingdom" is defined as the existence of close family ties, or the offer of responsible sponsorship. All such refugees must be personally acceptable.

United Kingdom's Contribution within present policy

7. A total of 101 have so far qualified on the grounds of connections with the United Kingdom. Furthermore shortly before the Home Secretary's announcement a party of 99 Vietnamese children was admitted to this country after the Ockenden Venture had guaranteed support on a long-term basis. It was also accepted that Indo-Chinese already in the United Kingdom who did not wish to

1.