TNAG-2067-FCO40-2945-Vietnamese-boat-people-unaccompanied-minors-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 30

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

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Mr Hamilton, SEAD

From The Minister of State

The Hon Francis Maude MP

David Alton MP House of Commons London

SW1A OAA

8 March 1990

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RELIVED IN

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22 MAR 1990

SY OFFICER

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Jee Aad все

Since your call on me on 13 December I have been looking into the question of unaccompanied Vietnamese children in the camps.

You might like to know where things now stand. I have written in similar terms to Mike Morris, who was with you when you called, and who has subsequently written to me to ask about progress.

You may recall that I explained to you the special arrangements under the Comprehensive Plan of Action for looking after unaccompanied children. These included the establishment of a Committee under the auspices of the UNHCR to find the best solution for each child on a case- by-case basis. This Committee has now been set up, and the UNHCR office in Hong Kong have appointed an executive agency to undertake the detailed casework.

Research has generally confirmed what I told you earlier: that the unaccompanied children in camps in Hong Kong tend to fall into two categories, namely those whose parents have already reached the west and those whose parents remained behind in Vietnam. In a very large number of cases, the children are in the care of uncles or aunts in a wider network of extended Vietnamese families. This makes it difficult to estimate the total number of unaccompanied children in Hong Kong, but we believe the Committee will be asked to consider something in the region of 5,000 cases.

Very few orphans have been identified. Those who have no parents tend to be absorbed into family groups, usually of relatives, and in such circumstances adoption is not usually considered to be the best option for the child.

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