TNAG-1802-FCO40-2562-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 116

- This is the stage we are at; and we will proceed on a stage by

stage basis.

- But let us remember that all the parties involved in this

problem - the Vietnamese, UNHCR and the international community at large, accept that there must be comprehensive arrangements to cover boat people not only in Hong Kong but in the region as

a whole.

3.

It has been said that Britain's record on resettling boat people

here is dismal: can we not do more?

We have an honourable record.

Since 1975, 20,000 refugees from Indo China have come to

Britain 13,000 are Vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong.

Our current resettlement programme which will take us up to

May of next year is about 20 a month. Even this puts a

considerable strain on the local authorities involved.

- A further programme is under active consideration.

-

We have already taken in more refugees from Vietnam than other place in the world.

any

Resettling people in strange countries creates real

difficulties to which there are no easy answers. If we are to

get it right, the facilities for training, housing etc should not be overstretched. It is something we must get right; and

we have up to now.