TNAG-0881-FCO40-1091-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 39

THERE ARE NO UNACCOMPANIED ELDERLY PEOPLE, ALL OF THOSE OVER 65 BEING PART OF EXTENDED FAMILY GROUPS.

5.

6.

OCCUPATIONS RANGE FROM PROFESSIONAL ·PEOPLE (DENTISTS, A PHARMACIST AND EVEN A FILM DIRECTOR) TO FISHERMEN, THOUGH WE HAVE TRIED TO KEEP THE LATTER TO A MINIMUM. OTHER SKILLED PEOPLE INCLUDE WATCHMAKERS, GOLD AND SIVERSMITHS, MECHANICS, LATHE OPERATORS, WELDERS, ELECTRICIANS AND A PLUMBER. THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH CLERICAL EXPERIENCE INCLUDING AT LEAST 4 SECRETARIES WITH EXPERIENCE OF TYPING

IN ENGLISH, AND A NUMBER OF TEACHERS. MANY OF THOSE SELECTED

HAD THEIR OWN BUSINESSES IN VIETNAM.

A SURPRISINGLY LARGE PROPORTION OF THOSE SELECTED HAVE A KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH. ALTHOUGH IN SOME CASES THE KNOWLEDGE IS RUDIMENTARY, SEVERAL OF THE REFUGEES SPEAK IT WELL.

DEPENDING ON HOW MANY OF THE 412 SUBSEQUENTLY DROP OUT THIS LEAVES ABOUT 600 TO BE SELECTED ON OUR NEXT VISIT TO HONG KONG. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE ASSISTANCE WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE

AUTHOR IT IES HERE, PARTICULARLY THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. WE MOVE ON TO MALAYSIA ON 18 FEBRUARY AND WILL REPORT OUTCOME AT END OF VISIT.

7.

FCO: PLEASE COPY TO : MC DOWALL (HOME OFFICE, LUNAR HOUSE),

MALLETT (MVD) AND MORGAN (UND).

FILES

M & VD

HK & G D

UND

[ADVANCED AS REQUESTED]

2.

COPIES TO:

MR.M.E. HEAD, ASSISANT SEC.;

II DIVN. номе OFFICE QUEEN

ANNE'S CATE

MR. MCDOWALL, HOME OFFICE LUNAR HOUSE.