TNAG-1068-FCO40-1318-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-the-UK-1981 — Page 43

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5. However, there was a good deal of concern that any announcement, by UK or any other resettlement territory, to take up more refugees is likely unwittingly to trigger off and "generate" further VR exodus. Members were concerned

that :

(a)

recent departures from Vietnam had largely been as a result of economic factors, including food shortage; and

(b) humanitarian policies of resettlement territories could drain skills/talents and "de-stabilize" the refugees' country of origin. (This was a point very forcefully argued in connection with an earlier item in the Agenda re Laotian and Kumpuchean refugees.)

6. In the light of the above, the Chairman Rev Jackson concluded that there was neither concensus nor conviction within the Committee that this was an appropriate time to approach the Home Office for a reinforcement of the UK effort.

7.

Nevertheless, Rev Jackson would brief SCOR Chairman Sir Leslie Kirkley on/Committee's discussions and Members' "unease" about the HK situation. He hoped that when Sir Leslie next has his regular session with the Home Secretary, the matter could be broached informally and the Home Secretary's reactions gauged.

8.

I repeatedly emphasized to members that HKG are in touch with Home Office through FCO on this and that we are guided by FCO in our timing and tactics. Similarly, throughout the debate, I impressed upon members that VRS presented a global problem and burden far too great for HK to bear alone. It was important for UK to continue to take some (not necessarily vast numbers) not so much to give HK real relief but to show other countries that UK cared enough to be playing a part.

9. At this juncture, Miss Joyce Pearce of Ockenden Venture and an official of the Save the Children Fund mentioned their worry that UK should take a decision on a continuing commitment before VR reception facilities have been run down beyond the point of resuscitation. Miss Joyce Pearce further mentioned that even the JCRV Secretariat has been reduced from four to three members and moved back into the Home Office (from Hepburn House).

10. Commenting on this, I said that the FCO and indeed, through JCRV, the Home Office were well aware of the "time limit" imposed on the run-down of reception centres and therefore on the arrival of VRS.

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