TNAG-0653-FCO40-802-Previously-closed-extract-Folio-87.-Now-released-and-reunite-1977 — Page 24

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From the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Evan Luard Esq MP

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

19 April 1977

Thank you for your letter of 5 April about the "boat" refugees who are to come here.

These are

In fact 21 of the 116 are already here. three of the families rescued at sea by the "WS MATHER" It was proposed to select 95 further candidates from "boat" refugees in Hong Kong. However all but 19 of such refugees have now been accepted for settlement elsewhere, or are hoping to be accepted. None of the 19 has shown any interest in coming to this country. You may like to know that, since the number of boat refugees from Indo-Chinese now in Hong Kong is considerably less than the number the Home Office agreed to accept, consideration is now being given to the possibility

We of accepting such refugees from other countries as well. intend to discuss this with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The desirability of receiving, so far as is possible, those refugees most suited to the British way of life is appreciated, but account must of course be taken of the refugees' own wishes, and some of them may prefer to go else-

where.

Yours sincerely

James Boyden Esq MP House of Commons

། ་*

(Evan Luard)

C