TNAG-2067-FCO40-2945-Vietnamese-boat-people-unaccompanied-minors-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 40

PS/Mr Maude

12

23 FEB 1990

HIRB 243/15

RECEIVED IN MINISTRY

0 6 MAR 1990

FROM: C C D Haswell

Hong Kong Department

VER

INDEX

*

REGIST

DATE: 23 February 1990

cc: Mr McLaren

Mr Paul, HKD

CORRESPONDENCE ON VIETNAMESE ORPHANS AND UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IN

HONG KONG

Problem

We have received a quantity of correspondence on the subject of orphans and unaccompanied children among the boat people in Hong

Kong, including letters from parents hoping to adopt a Vietnamese

child.

1.

Recommendation

2. I submit draft language for standard paragraphs on the subject,

from which I recommend suitable replies should be drawn.

Background

3. Mr David Alton MP called on Mr Maude on 13 December to voice

his concern about the plight of orphans and unaccompanied children

in Hong Kong. Subsequent publicity given to the call generated a

flow of correspondence, in the main from parents hopeful of adopting a Vietnamese child.

4. Problems were encountered in setting up in Hong Kong the

arrangements for unaccompanied minors prescribed by the CPA. These

have now been overcome, and Hong Kong reported on 21 February that

the UNHCR Committee has now been established and is to begin

consideration of individual cases. Because of the networks of

extended Vietnamese families in the camps, it has been difficult to

identify the number of children who fall into the category of

unaccompanied minor, as usually defined. Best estimates are that

WINABY