here. However, the current extremely limiting criteria cut across the mutual support and feelings of responsibility (not necessarily linked with affinity) traditionally present among members of a normal Vietnamese family where the concept of family extends beyond that of the industrialised West and we would urge that in the exercise of its discretionary powers the Home Office should give full weight to these considerations.
67. The reunion of families who have been given permission to come to this country has been achieved slowly, because the process of getting them here has been lengthy and cumbersome. These delays have resulted in unnecessary stress for all concerned and a reappraisal is required of the relevant national and international machinery.
68. Family reunion cases leaving Vietnam for the United Kingdom and other countries do so under the Orderly Departure Programme, based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Vietnamese Government of 30 May 1979, whereby the UNHCR would facilitate the departure from Vietnam of those persons whom the Vietnamese authorities were willing to see depart. The system requires that the Vietnamese authorities grant exit visas to those holding entry visas for a particular country. We set out below some comparative figures of departures to countries under the Orderly Departure Programme:
Numbers expressed
Country
Numbers received Numbers between 1980 and | applied
31 August 1982
as a percentage of those applied
for
for
United States
6,067
?
N/A
France
5,749
6,000
96%
Canada
3,340
?
N/A
Federal Republic of Germany
1,914
6,000
32%
Belgium
1,102
3,000
37%
Sweden
694
1,000
69%
United Kingdom
558
2,600
21%
Switzerland
354
1,000
35%
69.
The Orderly Departure Programme does not work well in that the flow of departures is slow and erratic, and there is only minimal notice of arrivals. We have been informed by UNHCR and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the administrative procedures which operate within Vietnam and which contribute to this situation. We are faced, however, with the analysis shown above, which indicates that other countries, particularly France and Sweden, have been considerably more successful than the United Kingdom in receiving those for whom entry visas have been given. We would urge Her Majesty's Government and UNHCR to do everything possible to speed departures to this country.
70.
Reunion with family members still in Vietnam, in refugee camps or settled in other countries, is perhaps the most fundamental aim of the Vietnamese families settled in this country. Many report that assurances were given to them in Hong Kong that family members would be able to join them in the UK. The sudden stiffening of the criteria in mid-1981 has caused widespread distress and has led to claims that promises made in Hong Kong have been broken. Failure to realise their reasonable hopes for family reunion will
16.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.