TNAG-1277-FCO40-1627-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 150

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We would, however, be prepared to consider the possibility of bringing some of those of 14 years old and under here into care and

I believe o approach the Home Office for permission to do this. hat Save the Children Fund has already taken intiative in this direction and I am due to have a meeting with them at the end of

I realise that it this week to discuss a possible joint programme. is our own tardiness that produces this situation, but it causes me some concern that 88 of the 106 unaccompanied children currently in Hong Kong are being considered for re-settlement in the USA. This can only mean that those remaining for us to sponsor are pro- bably too old for any programme that we could easily arrange here.. This is by no means the fault of the two agencies concerned, we have offered several times to operate a programme for these children but, as you know, the policy of our present Government is one which has thwarted our initiative in this connection!

One final question. I am, as you will realise, assuming that should all, or the majority of the 88 children be accepted for the USA, the remainder will be in the older age group. If he is well enough to do so, I believe Lord Ennals, Chairman of our Advisory Council, is proposing to visit Hong Kong shortly and I would be

▾

Asia Cttee grateful if you could discuss this problem in detail with him and

possibly have available for him case by case information about the

I young people for whom you are still needing help at that time. am prepared immediately to ask our Home Office again to grant admis- sion to a group of children between the ages of 10 and 14 but it seems to me as if these are already under consideration for the United States, you are likely to prefer to take that certain option for them, should it arise?

CO: David Emmals

Pastor Stumpf

Yours sincerely

Joyce Penice

(Joyce Pearce)

13.12.83 inte

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