TNAG-1523-FCO40-2087-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 7

Our Ref: VR/UK/PA

Mr Graeme C Jackson

Information and Liaison Officer

Vietnamese Programme

The British Refugee Council Bondway House

3/9 Bondway

London SW8 1SJ

Hong Kong

Government Office

香港政府駐英辦事處

27 February 1986

MKK 243/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

29 JAN1986

DESK OFFIC^A

INDEX

TUCULTRY

weitin Take?.

SS

(BRC)

Dear Graeme.

/

Vietnamese Refugees

SCORRI Family Reunion Programme

After our meeting at the Home Office held on

21 January, I promised to drop you a note on your letter of 16 January to the Home Office on the above subject.

Hong Kong is happy for the agencies to submit 60 names each month to the Home Office and for the Home Office in turn to pass a list of those who have been approved for entry to the UK on to Immigration Department. We are also happy to continue to look after those who have been approved for entry to the UK until they are called forward by Margaret Kemp. It would be possible on occasions for these refugees to be kept in Argyle Street Transit Centre. Difficulties will only arise if the - call forward notification is delayed unduly. We would be grate- ful to have confirmation that this new procedure is accepted by all those concerned so that the necessary arrangements can be made in Hong Kong.

B. Towing also

said at meeting

In respect of refugees who have addresses outside the open centres (this does not apply to closed centre refugees), it is the practice for some refugees who have jobs which require them to remain outside the open centres overnight to be given special permission to obtain accommodation outside the open

centres.

However, Vietnamese refugees are defined as those who have been granted to stay in Hong Kong as refugees. Their status in Hong Kong does not depend on their residence. Those living outside the open centres are carefully monitored and the centre managements are required to keep and regularly update a list of those who live outside. Therefore merely because a refugee has an address outside one of the open centres does not mean that he or she is ineligible for UK resettlement. All such refugees are officially resident in either one or two open centres and are merely permitted to live outside because of their jobs. All interviews and communication with these refugees take place in the open centre.

that address outside

mean

Comp does not been creeplay by HK refinger has

for reselllomat..

.../2

Telephone: 01-499 9821

Telex: 28404

6 Grafton Street London W1X 3LB