TNAG-0974-FCO40-1193-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 101

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Mr. Opdahl stated that more than 2,000 refugees are already in Norway and that it is expected that the quota of 3,000 will be filled by the

end of 1980. Whether there will be another quota extension is not

known yet.

A selection team will proceed to the Far East at the end of May to

check on family reunion cases. Hong Kong is included and, so far,

17 family reunion cases are known to be in Hong Kong. Mr. Opdahl offered little hope that the policy of his government would be

changed in favour of Hong Kong.

We were surprised to see that the voluntary sector is not at all

actively involved in policy decisions in regard to the establishment

of quotas and the integration of refugees.

Various reasons were given to us: the remote geographical position

of Norway, which, in the past, had no dealings with refugees with

Asian background. Norwegians are uncertain and reluctant to face

up to this problem. It is difficult for Norwegians to make allowances

to people of different cultures which prevents the building up of normal interpersonal relationships.

Members of the Norwegian Interchurch Aid, Caritas and the Norwegian

Refugee Council, as well as individuals expressed concern that

government does not provide opportunities for active participation

by the voluntary sector.

Despite this rather negative picture efforts should continue via

diplomatic channels, Caritas, Interchurch Aid and the Norwegian

Refugee Council to bring about a change of attitude resulting in

the acceptance of refugees not only from ships but from countries

of first asylum as well.

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