E.R.
AFT
CONFIDENTIAL
CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER AND LORD CARRINGTON BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ON 9 DECEMBER 1980
Vietnamese refugees: UK resettlement programme
POINTS TO MAKE
UK's role
1. The UK took a leading role in initiating the July 1979 Geneva conference
and is currently engaged in a substantial resettlement programme for Vietnamese
refugees in the UK.
Numbers
2.
Between the fall of Saigon (April 1975) and the end of November 1980 over
12,400 Indo-Chinese refugees were accepted into the UK, including over 7,650
of the 10,000 quota announced at the Geneva conference and about 600 rescued
at sea since that quota was announced.-
Rate of resettlement
3. The rate of resettlement in the UK is determined principally by the avail-
ability of permanent housing which is offered voluntarily for this purpose. We
are making good progress but the housing situation is such that it will take us
into 1981 before the 10,000 quota is completed.
Possibility of a further quota (defensive only)
4.
We are directing our efforts to the fulfilment of our undertaking to accept
the quota of 10,000 from Hong Kong.
5.
been tochen on
But the resettlement programme is facing severe practical difficulties. No decisim has yet
a further quota further quota from Hong Kong would add to these, and any proposal that we should
accept one could raise awkward political problems. The Government fully recognis
the Hong Kong Government's difficulties and it will keep a close watch on the
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