he did not like the idea of such camps he "found the circumstances, the conditions, very encouraging".
In this country we have already accepted for resettlement over 19,000 refugees from Vietnam. 500 more refugees, now in camps both in Hong Kong and elsewhere in South East Asia, are currently being admitted as a result of our decision announced by the Home Secretary last September, to relax our present criteria on family reunion. I am glad to say that this initiative has encouraged other countries themselves to accept some 1100 more refugees from Hong Kong than they might otherwise have done. In the light of this encouraging response, the Hong Kong Government has also decided to resettle some 250 more refugees, drawn from among the longest stayers in the camps. These measures should help to ease the very difficult problem that Hong Kong continues to face.
Having seen the refugee camps myself I am satisfied that the Hong Kong Government is doing everything possible, in very difficult circumstances, to treat the refugees well. Should you have any details of specific allegations regarding ill-treatment of refugees I should be grateful if you would let me have them, so that I can ask the Hong Kong Government to investigate them.
Yours
Tim
Tim Renton
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