TNAG-1531-FCO40-2095-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1987 — Page 15

+

DSR 11C

to the 14500 displaced Indochinese who have been

Some 500 more refugees,

say

from

to

resettled in Hong Kong).

camps both in Hong Kong and elsewhere in South East Asia,

were admitted to the UK as a result of our decision

announced by the Home Secretary in September 1985 to

relax our present family reunion criteria. I am glad

that this initiative has encouraged other countries

to accept some 1200 more refugees from Hong Kong than

they might otherwise have done. In the light of this

encouraging response, the Hong Kong Government also

decided to resettle some 250 more refugees, drawn from

longest stayers in the refugee camps. As to

our intentions on the further resettlement here of

among the

Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong, I can assure you that

we are considering urgently what more might be done.

must, of course ensure

,

We

our that any further action on

part does not merely exacerbate the problem by

encouraging more departures from Vietnam.

We are

therefore looking closely at all possible durable

solutions (including resettlement) to the continuing sad

problem of refugees in South East Asia. We shall

continue to work to this end.

I am returning your constituent's

and have kept a copy for our files.

letter herewith,

Page 15Page 16