TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 160

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SKAD

PA

VRs file

[HKK 24)] 1

RECEIVED IN RĘGOTRY

DESK

30 SEP 1983

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

INDEX

From The Minister of State

John Powley Esq MP House of Commons LONDON SW1A OAA

Dear John.

✓.

Ari

28 September 1983

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Miss Welker HKD

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Mr Mantigone Pott Home Their

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NR

Thank you for your letter of 31 August to Richard Luce enclosing a copy of one from your constituent, The Reverend J S Drummond of 77 Low Road, Hellesdon, Norwich, about Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

Although the numbers fleeing by boat from Vietnam have continued to fall this year, there has been an even sharper fall in the opportunities for resettlement of the refugees in the West, and the authorities in Hong Kong have had to cope with a rise in their refugee population to over 13,600 in what is already one of the most densely populated areas of the world.

In these difficult circumstances, they provide, in conjunction with charitable organisations such as Caritas, temporary accommodation for the refugees, including basic health care and welfare services. The camps are run with the full cooperation of the UNHCR, who contribute to the expenses.

In 1979 the British Government opened special quotas for refugees from Hong Kong totalling 11,000 to help with the massive exodus of boat people at that time. But these quotas were filled last year. The total number of Vietnamese now settled in the United Kingdom is over 17,000 and that includes refugees' immediate families, some of whom have come direct from Vietnam, and a large number of those rescued at sea by our shipping. There are still over 2,000 more eligible to come here from Vietnam whom we have undertaken to accept as and when they get authority to leave Vietnam. Resettlement of refugees has not been without problems

/historical