TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 37

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to be in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, in connection with the transfe in April.

3.2 Refugees from Irian Jaya in Papua New Guinea

(Correspondence with the PNG High Commissioner had been circulated)

Irene Khan (UNHCR) gave an update on the situation of refugees from Irian Jaya in Papua New Guinea. The refugees numbered approximately 11,000, of whom 7,000 were in Western Province and the remainder in West Sepik. There was no longer evidence of severe malnutrition among children, and there were better logistical arrangements for the provision of food in Western Province. There were mobile medical aid posts in nearly all camps, though there had been some problem with medical records. From January 1985 UNHCR had appointed a medical consultant. Awareness among refugees of the problems of water supplies had improved sanitation.

On the question of protection, Papua New Guinea maintained that the vast majority of refugees would have to return. Some would have to stay and be integrated into Papua New Guinea, and UNHCR will have to resettle a proportion of these. 120 people had been returned to Irian Jaya in September. UNHCR had not been informed, though they believed those who had returned had done so voluntarily. UNHCR thought there would be no more volunteers, and it was not believed the Papua New Guinea would enforce repatriation.

It was agreed that chairman would write to the Papua New Guinea High Commissioner in London saying the committee appreciated Papua New Guinea.'s policy so far, that the committee was following developments with care, and that UNHCR was keeping the committee informed.

3.3 Ockenden Venture Paper on Refugee Stress

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( circulated with previous minutes)

Concern was expressed that the names of individual refugees had been included.

Joyce Pearce (Ockenden Venture) said there had been an error in distributing the original version or the paper, rather than the amended version that had been sent to SCORRI.

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It was agreed that those who had the appendix with them would leave it behind, and those who did not would destroy their copies.

There was a discussion on the best way to follow-up the paper. It was agreed that a one day conference would be held in the resource centre of the BRC on a Saturday. As the subject was better suited to the work of the BRC's UK Health Working Group and Joint Operations Committee, it was agreed that the Comm: tee Secretariat would co-ordinate the initiative, taking into account the various suggestions that had been made.

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

re-

A letter from David Waddington (Minister of State, Home Office) to the Chairman

circulated with agenda) had stated that the Home Office were prepared to consider individual cases for family reunion of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

Graeme Jackson (BRC) said it had been decided at a meeting of Refugee Action and Ockenden Venture that they would first ascertain which refugees still wanted to be considered for resettlement in the UK and would then present approximately