Your Ref:
Our Ref:
20 August 1980
Mr J Goddard
11 Division
Home Office
Queen Anne's Gate
HONG KONG ARRIVALS
JOINT COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
·
HEPBURN HOUSE - MARSHAM STREET LONDON SW1P 4HW
Chairman: Sir Arthur Peterson, KCB, MVO
Telephone: 01-211 3735
You mentioned that FCO had received a telegram from Hong Kong seeking explanations and reassurances about a low departure rate in August from Hong Kong. By way of supplying material may I simply suggest the following as a basis for a reply:
"As of 20 August 1980, 311 for August had either come or been notified
to JCRV. However, by the end of July 333 refugees had been called forward from Hong Kong but not arrived, and up to 15 August 1980, JCRV called forward a further 154 to arrive during August, therefore totalling 487 As well as allowing for the closure of the Matlock reception centre, JCRV has had to make room for an exceptionally high figure of prospective boat rescue arrivals. Although in the event the arrival of one large group will not now occur until September, it was necessary to preserve 136 August vacancies for boat rescues. Corresponding provision must be foreseen in September/October following the sea rescue of some 200 refugees by the "Staffordshire".'
CoMenem
A Marshall Secretary
44
¥ msort
in if GG though this is reducible to
by 17 drepents
comil 4 de ferments.
The JCRV is formed from representatives of the British Council for Aid to Refugees, the Ockenden Venture, the Save the Children Fund
and the Home Office. Its task is to co-ordinate the programme for the reception
wtlement of refugees from Vietr
57
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