TNAG-1801-FCO40-2561-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 9

ER.

CONFIDENTIAL

go. As I have indicated, we do not currently have financial provision to meet such demands. In addition, local authorities, especially those covering urban areas, would almost certainly

for probably very publicly press central government - assistance with large scale arrivals.

I hope it is clear from what I have said that the position is serious and needs urgent action. A steady stream of arrivals from Hong Kong and Vietnam totalling 40-50 per month can be and is accommodated by both the voluntary agencies and statutory services - large scale arrivals, especially sudden surges,

cannot.

I should be glad to learn what action can be taken to regularise the arrivals under the ODP and to improve advance notification. (If a meeting between VSU, IND and yourselves would be useful please do not hesitate to get in touch.) Once that information is to hand we will then need to consider what advice we give to Ministers about the consequential implications for any new agreement to accept more Vietnamese refugees from camps in Hong Kong as well as how best to tackle the ODP problem.

Yours sincerely

brouwen four

лос

MRS BH FAIR