TNAG-1427-FCO40-1910-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1986 — Page 167

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if no other country had agreed to take them within 90 days of the rescue. In July 1984, Britain agreed to join the UNHCR Rescue at Sea Resettlement Offers (RASRO) scheme for a trial period. The aim is to encourage ship rescues of boat people, to spread refugees more evenly between resettlement countries, and to try to ensure that refugees are resettled in countries where they have family links. When the scheme began on 1 May 1985, 14 Western countries had pledged more than 2,500 places, including a quota of 150 provided by Britain. Under family reunion provisions, Britain applies the same criteria to Vietnamese as to other refugees; only the spouse and minor children of a Vietnamese refugee already in Britain can be admitted, except in exceptional cases. Referring to the special problem of refugees in Hong Kong, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Memorandum of evidence to the Sub-Committee said that Britain was working with the UNHCR and with other countries to find practical solutions as soon as possible.

The Sub-Committee's Report, issued on 18 April 1985, said that while Britain had a good record on accepting Vietnamese refugees, greater efforts should be made in training them and teaching them English. It recommended that the closed camps in Hong Kong should be abolished and that Britain should provide at least 500 more places for Vietnamese boat people, since even a modest commitment to take more might persuade other countries to increase their quotas.

In the House of Commons on 24 May 1985, Mr Luce said that many more resettlement places would have to be found for the refugees currently in places of first asylum, particularly Hong Kong. He also stated that it was the aim of the British and Hong Kong Governments to see the closed camps in Hong Kong terminated as soon as possible.

Mr Luce quoted the remarks of the UN High Commissioner, Mr Hartling, after the latter's visit to Hong Kong 10 days before: "We are very grateful to Hong Kong to the authorities, the Government here and to the people because Hong Kong has given asylum and never, never refused to give asylum to refugees coming here and never forced them back against their will, and treated them well; but, of course, they would like as we would like to see a solution a durable solution for these refugees". Mr Luce added that the Government certainly shared Mr Hartling's views.

Laos and Cambodia

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The flight from these two countries has been mainly over the border to Thailand. Laotians seek refuge because of the regime's oppressive domestic policies. In Cambodia, both the horrors of Khmer Rouge rule in 1975-78 and flight from the Vietnamese invasion of December 1978 caused large-scale departures. The situation in Thailand became so serious during 1979 that at the end of the year holding camps were established for up to 300,000 refugees and displaced persons. Last November, Vietnam launched her heaviest offensive since 1979 against the resistance groups, overrunning all the main camps on the Thai/Cambodian border, causing over 230,000 Cambodians to flee into Thailand. These, however, are not considered eligible for settlement. The United Kingdom is among those donor countries which contribute to international relief on the Thai/Cambodian border. During financial year 1984/85 Britain provided £850,000 for this purpose. The need for such aid is likely to persist as long as the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia continues.