TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 123

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REFUGEES AND SETTLEMENT IN THE UK - YOUR TX 351/LIS/230

WE HAD SIMILAR ONE

WE CAN SEE NO EASY COUNTER TO REPORT. HERE TEN DAYS AGO WHEN HOME OFFICE TEAM LEFT FOR UK. HAVE DISCUSSED WITH SECURITY AND INFORMATION BRANCHES. IT IS FACT THAT SOME REFUGEES ARE CHOOSY. THIS IS NOT NEW AS MANY IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN INSISTENT ON GOING TO USA. PROBLEM IS NOT A MAJOR ONE YET.

SOME REFUGEES ARE DEFINITELY +TRYING IT ON+ AND SOME ALSO ARE SHOWING DISTINCT PREFERENCE TO SETTLE IN HONG KONG RATHER THAN THE UK AND OTHER PLACES. BEST ANSWER HERE IS TO KEEP UP PRESSURES ON REFUGEES TO TAKE UP OFFERS 3Y EXPLANATION AND FACE-TO-FACE WORK, GOOD TALKERS FROM UK HAVE HELPED. GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING HOW SOME PRESSURE CAN BE BROUGHT TO BEAR 3UT THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES 30TH LEGAL AND MORAL ON STOPPING SUCH PRIVILEGES AS RIGHT TO WORK.

WE ARE WATCHING SITUATION AND TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ACROSS TO JOURNALISTS AND VISTORS THE NEED TO SEE THE PROBLEM

IN PERSPECTIVE.

PUBLICITY LINE IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE NATURAL INCLINATION TO TRY FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND

USA HAS UNDOUBTED ATTRACTIONS. INITIALLY, SOME FAMILIES OPTED FOR COUNTRIES ON ANY PORT IN A STORM, BASIS, BUT WITH PASSAGE OF TIME ARE HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS.

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