TNAG-0883-FCO40-1093-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 134

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BRITISH EMBASSY COPENHAGEN

21 March 1979

RF Stimson Esq UN Department

FCO

Dear Stinson,

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

1.

HKK 243/1.

RAAN

2 3 MAR 1979

en

по

J23.3.1

We have been following developments in Danish policy, last reported in our telegrams nos 28 and 56. The Danish Government, which has remained under pressure from the UN High Commissioner to do more to assist over current refugee problems, recently sought parliamentary authority to spend an additional sum of D Kr 15 million (approximately £1.5 million) in 1979. It has, however, been decided that this should be spent on assistance to refugees in their region of origin, primarily in South East Asia, rather than on resettlement in Denmark.

2.

You will recall that we were previously told (our

Now telegram no 56) that the main problem was finance. that money has become available, the emphasis is instead being put on the practical problems of resettlement in a Danish environment which is so alien from that of the refugees' countries of origin. The MFA say that the authorities here need more experience before Denmark could undertake a further increase in the resettlement programme of 500 refugees per annum.

3.

Within this programme, however, the quota for refugees from South East Asia may perhaps be increased, in response to the wishes of the UN High Commissioner, to about 200. A mixed committee of officials and representatives of the Danish refugee organisation is currently in Hong Kong at work on selection.

You wer

Дайн ворим

Cc:

D JE Ratford

Hong Kong and General Dept

FCO

SEAD FCO

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