TNAG-1524-FCO40-2088-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 84

GRS 550

UNCLASSIFED

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

TELNO 173

OF 171015Z FEBRUARY 86

INFO ROUTINE FCO

༡

Y

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON FOR BEN TANG. ALSO PLEASE PASS A

COPY TO LIZ HEBDEN AT THE HOME OFFICE.

FCO FOR MR LEEKS, HKD

FROM KEN WOODHOUSE

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : UK FAMILY REUNION CASES.

WE WERE DISAPPOINTED TO RECEIVE THE REQUEST FROM REFUGEE ACTION TO

HOLD 15 REFUGEES IN HONG KONG BECAUSE ADEQUATE HOUSING WAS NOT (NOT)

AVAILBABLE. WE SHALL, OF COURSE, COMPLY WITH THIS REQUEST, BUT IT DOES CAUSE SOME DISTRESS AMONG THE REFUGEES. THEY ARE ANXIOUS THAT

NOTHING SHOULD INTERFERE WITH THEIR RESETTLEMENT.

2. WE HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF HER PRESENCE HERE WITH LORD

CHITNIS TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH JULIA MEIKLEJOHN. WE THINK

THAT WE NOW UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS A LITTLE BETTER AND

ACCORDINGLY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

WE SHALL NOT (NOT) MAKE ANY CHANGES UNTIL YOU HAVE DISCUSSED EACH

OF THEM WITH:

(A) REFUGEE ACTION

(B) OCKENDEN VENTURE

KK 243/

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

18 FEB 1986

(C) THE BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

Acton Taken

(D) THE HOME OFFICE, AND

(E) THE FCO.

3. WE SUGGEST THAT:

(A) WE SHOULD CEASE SENDING YOU LISTS OF 40 REFUGEES EACH MONTH FROM

WHICH TO SELECT FAMILY REUNION CASES. IT IS OBVIOUS THESE LISTS ARE

NOT HELPING THE FEW OF THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT HONG KONG HAVE COME FROM

THESE LISTS.

(B) THE VOLAGS SHOULD CONTINUE TO CONSULT PROSPECTIVE SPONSORS (AS THEY DO AT PRESENT), BUT THEY SHOULD TELEX US AND THE HOME OFFICE

AS THEY OBTAIN SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT. THEY SHOULD ALSO INDICATE

THE HOUSING STATUS OF THE FAMILY REUNION CASES IN HONG KONG HE.

WHETHER HOUSING WITH THEIR RELATIVES IS POSSIBLE OR WHETHER

ACCOMMODATION IS REQUIRED. IN THE LATTER CASE, AN INDICATION OF

WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE SHOULD BE PROVIDED.

ICE