TNAG-1802-FCO40-2562-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-the-UK-1988 — Page 51

The British Government too have played their full part.

It was

our initiative which led to the Geneva Conference

in 1979, when there were nearly 70,000 arrivals in Hong

Kong from Vietnam. The arrangements which were agreed at

that Conference have served Hong Kong well. Nearly

110,000 boat people have been resettled from Hong Kong

since 1979, and 13,000 of these have come to the united

Kingdom. Our record on resettlement certainly bears

comparison with that of other countries which, unlike

Britain, have continuing programmes of large-scale

immigration.

We have reviewed our resettlement commitment in the light

of recent developments. As you will know, the British

Government announced on 22 December that we are prepared

in principle to take a further 1,000 Vietnamese refugees

From Hong Kong over 2-3 years, provided that others are

prepared to contribute commensurately. I enclose the

:ext of Mr Eggar's statement to the House of Commons,

setting out our intentions. Once the necessary

conditions are met, our new resettlement programme could

be introduced with immediate effect and the rate of >e

resettlement increased from 20 to 40 per month.

is you well know, there are no easy solutions to this tragic

>roblem.

But I hope that this letter will reassure you

:he British Government are ready to play their full part

In a genuine international effort to tackle it.