TNAG-1786-FCO40-2546-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-closed-camp-policy-1988 — Page 227

ARPAEQ

file

RESTRICTED

ния 243/4

RECEIVED REGISTRY

27 JAN 1988

#FICER

Mr McLaren

PS/Lord Glenarthur

FROM:

CO Hum

Hong Kong Department

DATE:

27 January 1988

Re

PA

Y

Action taken

CC:

Mr Adams, SEAD

Mrs Stewart, Bl Division,

Home Office

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER FROM OXFAM,

HONG KONG

A

Problem

1.

Lord

The director of Oxfam Hong Kong has sent a letter and a report to the Prime Minister about Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong. Glenarthur has been asked to reply.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that Lord Glenarthur reply on the lines of the attached draft. The Home Office and SEAD concur.

Background

3. The Oxfam report was published in Hong Kong in November last

The report year. It is a thoughtful and well written paper. concentrates on Hong Kong's closed centre policy, but also deals in some detail with such matters as the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong in the UK; repatriation; and aid to

Vietnam.

It is these matters which Mr Bale addresses in his letter

to the Prime Minister.

4. The resettlement question is primarily one for the Home Office. The line in the proposed draft has been agreed with Home Office

officials.

5.

The section on repatriation is on the lines agreed by Ministers and is consistent with the line taken by the Secretary of State in