TNAG-1301-FCO40-1657-Visits-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1984 — Page 103

CONFIDENTIAL

among those resettled in UK; about 80% dependent on social security. Home Office unwilling to admit more beyond those rescued by UK

shipping and approx 2,000 still eligible on family reunion basis

(mainly under Orderly Departure Programme (ODP) operated by Vietnamese Government in cooperation with UNHCR to facilitate legal

departure of those wishing to emigrate).

British Refugee Council's proposals for further UK quota.

7.

Following Lord Ennal's and Dr Barber's call on Mr Luce on 11

January (para 4 above), BRC Chairman Sir Arthur Peterson wrote to Mr Luce on 18 January proposing UK should accept two further quotas:

(i) 25 unaccompanied refugee children aged 10-15 who BRC say are

particularly vulnerable to the rigours of camp life;

(ii) 584 refugees now living in open camps who have close relatives

in UK, but who do not qualify for admission under strict

criteria of Home Office's family reunion policy. Mr Luce has now written to Mr Waddington at Home Office supporting these

proposals, Hong Kong Government (HKG) have been informed of

this.

Hong Kong Government's new proposals

8.

Following meeting in Hong Kong on 25 November 1983 between HMA

Hanoi, UNHCR senior coordinator for South East Asia (Simington) and

Hong Kong Secretary for Security (Jeaffreson), HKG have formulated

new proposals for coping with future arrivals of refugees. We have

just received these, but have not had time to consider them

thoroughly. In brief, they involve screening newly arriving boat people and returning those not qualifying as refugees to Vietnam.

This would be done with agreement of Vietnamese authorities.

9. Human rights and political aspects will need careful consideration before proposals can be approved. Unlikely that Vietnamese will give satisfactory assurances that returning refugees will not be punished. For this reason Ministers rejected

Hong Kong Government's previous request, in December 1983, that

refugees should be forcibly 'repatriated'. UNHCR's attitude to proposals will be crucial. So far, from reaction when consulted