TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 113

161

Why not?!

Th

Mr Heare

(Hong Kong Department)

ce An Seger SEAD

JOINT COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM

Reference KK 243

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

PA

15 NOV 1733

DEX OF

INDEX

REGISTRY

75

puen Taken

1.

Thank you for sending me a copy of Mr Nicholson's (Home Office) letter of 2 November to Mr Clift. The JCRV report

makes interesting reading, especially that many Vietnamese refugees have come to this country as a last resort following refusals by the USA and other resettlement countries; also that a high proportion are northern Vietnamese, further disadvantaged by language difficulties and lack of previous exposure to Western culture.

2.

You will recall that Mr Funseth (US State Dept) found it hard to believe that amongst the Vietnamese, there was such a high rate of unemployment and difficulty in settling in this country. It is important therefore to compare UK experience with other resettlement countries, especially when considering the

level and type of further assistance to the refugees. I have not seen a detailed report of the UNHCR seminar in September on refugee integration in Europe, attended by Voluntary Services Unit and the British Refugee Council. However if it is appropriate to follow up with further exchanges of information, the JCRV might be encouraged to offer their report to counterparts in other resettlement countries.

CODE 18-77

15 November 1983

[Mat

D J Peate

United Nations Department K 143

233 8631