CONFIDENTIAL
-
final confirmation of departure is very late indeed. However it could be helpful to look into the detail of the UNHCR arrangements for departure from Vietnam and see whether there is scope for any earlier notifications to the UNHCR London office (and thus the UK agencies). I should of course be glad if further investigation of the detail of the arrangements made in Vietnam could look not only at the scope for better notification but also for any opportunities for bringing about adequate control of the flow from Vietnam.
I am not surprised that information about the capacity of the refugee voluntary organisations seems to be at variance with ours. The position has changed at various time this year. I will not set out the detailed circumstances but suffice it to say. that Refugee Action has been kept quite near full capacity for most of this year and is seeking premises for a new centre. (We have not yet been asked for grant aid but now expect such a request and have no provision with which to meet it.) Ockenden on the other hand has had some spare capacity and shut one of its centres in early July (a particularly bad piece of timing as it turned out). Both organisations are anxious that the Government should accept more refugees from Hong Kong and obviously will seek to minimise any potential reception problems in discussions on that topic.
I think it will be implicit in the above that not only am I unhappy about the ODP position but I also cannot agree that there are no significant implications in the ODP problem for the current consideration of a new commitment to resettle refugees from Hong Kong. At the very least we need to make clear to Ministers that as matters now stand there is a risk that ODP arrivals could use up all reception capacity from time to time and thus bring to a halt, temporarily, arrivals from Hong Kong under any phasing arrangements which may be agreed for a new commitment. I think we would also have to point out the difficulties VSU has, at this stage, in advising on both the level at which phasing arrangements should be agreed and the consequent financial implications for its grant aid if the ODP uncertainties are not better controlled than at present. However, before going forward to Ministers on these lines I should be glad of your further comments as requested above. it would be helpful to meet to discuss this we are, as before, happy to do so.
Copies of this go to Mr Flesher in IND and Mr Colvin in South East Asia Department.
Yours sincerely
frower four
MRS BH FAIR
If
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.