TNAG-1802-FCO40-2562-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 305

Reference

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VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG N

1.

1415

RECE..

• REGISTRY 15 SEP 1988

SP OFFICER

INDEA 1

REGI ERY

PA

Action Laken

88

I attended the Asia Committee of the British Refuake Coundil (BRC), chaired by Lord Ennals on 12 September.

2. The meeting discussed the proposed approach by a number of BRC agencies for increasing resettlement in the UK for the Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong to 60 per month. During discussion the UNHCR representative, Mr Volfing and the British Red? Cross? Director, Dr Barber pointed out that the proposal was too open-ended to be acceptable (60 per month until all are resettled). There should

be no mention of a quota and a timescale (2 years?) should be specified. It was agreed that the paper should be adjusted before submission to the Home Office. Mr Volfing reported that all of the 468 Vietnamese who wanted to be resettled in the UK under the current programme will have arrived by October and that the numbers leaving Vietnam under the ODP Programme were picking up.

3. Dr Barber reported (faithfully) on last week's briefing meeting about the situation in Hong Kong. It was clear that this briefing was highly appreciated and provided valuable background for the Committee. In discussion representatives of Save the Children Fund and Oxfam said that the Hong Kong Government were still giving mixed messages to people in Vietnam who wanted to leave. The emphasis on resettlement and liberalisation was wrong because it still provided a pull factor. I said that we were aware of this and wanted to secure the deterrent effect of the new policy by agreeing on repatriation with Vietnam. The Director of Refugee Action, Jack Shieh (Vietnamese of Chinese ethnic origin) made an emotional intervention supporting resettlement for all Vietnamese boat people. This highlights the difficulty of the BRC in trying to reach an agreed position.

4.

The BRC are planning to raise resettlement with Home Office Ministers on 21 September. Lord Ennals intends to write to FCO Ministers later this month.

leker Molled

13 September 1988

CC: Mr Godson, SEAD

Mr Wrench, Home Office

10EAAY

P J MILLETT

UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT K155

270-2497