TNAG-1426-FCO40-1909-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 161

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Mrs P.E. Penner,

The House of Commons,

London, SIA OAA.

eblo Ra

Rocnester

MEI 1UE England.

15.5.85

Dear Mrs Fenner,

I have only recently moved into the area and will be very interested to watch

your workin the Commons on our behalf.

I am writing on two matters which have concerned me over the past few weeks. First, the plight of the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. I understand they are in an enclosed settlememt dependant on the magnaminity of nations in providing them with a permanent home. Last year the Government allowed 88 of them to come to the U.K. Could you please send me further details on why the number is so few; what provisions are being made for the refugees left in Hong Kong and what criteria is adopted in selecting the fortunate 88 ?

My second concern regards the surprising abstention of the U.K. in the Security Council of the U.. last week regarding the U.S. trade embargo on Nicaragua. When I have sought the Governments position on the U.S. involvement in Central America previously, I have been assured of their concern for Nicaragua to independently administer their own affairs particularly when their record on literacy, development and even human rights seam relatively commendable. How then can we abstain when £ suver power uses it's economic muscle to cripple a developing nation which pursues an ideolog different from it's own?

Thankyou for your help and interest.

Yours sincerely,

Blaake

Revd Jonathan Blake.

Senior Curate: The Farish of Rochester.