TNAG-1423-FCO40-1906-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 157

10

The Prime Minister, 10, Downing Street, Whitehall,

London.

Dear Mrs. Thatcher,

NA

Fro

R

pa

24315

445, Bury Road, Rochdale,

Lancs.OL11 5EU

16

3rd December, 1984

I am deeply concerned at reports from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the British Refugee Council about the closed camps in Hong Kong for some 6,000 refugees from Vietnam. I understand that these closed camps are virtually prison camps which people cannot leave except for resettlement in another country. The High Commissioner reports that "the whole area is surrounded by an iron picket fence topped with barbed wire". He also refers to "the ice-cold dormitories, where as many as 250 people are crowded together in the equivalent of small metallic cages at two levels".

I consider this to be an outrageous state of affairs to be going on under direct British control and responsibility. I would ask you to treat this matter with the urgency it demands. The improvement of conditions in the se camps must be given priority. Surely, Britain has obligations under inter- national law concerning the treatment and welfare of these people.

Britain must accept more of these people, particlarly those with relatives already here. We also need to press other countries to take their share of these unfortunate people.

I hope that you will please give this matter your personal attention. It is a matter of disgrace internationally that the British government should be responsible for such conditions.

Yours sincerely,

HKK 24315

d.

Hole (MR)

RECEIVE

(S. HOPE)

8JH

TRY

Taken