TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 120

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arrivals, it would be reasonable

proportion of those in centres,

to

expect Hong Kong to absorb a as part of a general programme of

resettlement or repatriation for the remainder. But the Hong Kong

Government is only likely to be

willing to consider this on the

strict understanding that it was а once and for all gesture, which

would need to be linked to an international effort, with UK

participation, to deal with what would then be a fixed number of

refugees in Hong Kong.

(c) Regional Integration

UNHCR prefer this to more distant

resettlement.

But Hong Kong's

neighbours have refugee problems of their own and would not welcome

any additional burden. Thailand, which has absorbed some refugees, has ruled out the possibility of absorbing any more.

(d) Increased Resettlement

But, for the reasons in

The re are three possible

We should continue to encourage other resettlement countries, both

directly and through UNHCR, to take more. para 11 above, we shall have difficulty.

options which might be considered:

(i) The UK might take a

a further quota.

ourselves.

Our efforts to persuade other countries to take more are unlikely to

be effective until we can show that we are willing to take more

There is evidence that they are looking to the UK

for a gesture. (The present SCORRI enquiry into Vietnamese refugees

is addressing this question.)

question.) A prerequisite for any successful campaign to increase offtake elsewhere is likely to be agreement admit more refugees here, preferably on a continuing quota.

to

(ii) Training schemes

UNHCR consider that resettlement prospects would improve if refugees

acquired the skills needed to work in industrialised societies. The

Hong Kong Government have already devoted considerable attention and

resources to providing training opportunities. They seek to provide

educational and vocational training, with emphasis on English, in all the government-run refugee centres. The voluntary agencies run

similar programmes in the open centres. In the Hei Ling Chau closed

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