CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH
Telephone 01-233-8631
270
C Birt Esq
Home Office
Immigration and Nationality Department
Lunar House, Croydon
Ma Morgan with
discussed
I think fisa
useful play to shape
pressure on the
Your reference
Our reference
Date
45/
HKK 243
6 November, 1978
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
- 8 NOV 1978
DESK OPOR
PS
RY
ction T
"BOAT REFUGEES" FROM VIETNAM
INDEX
PA
No ab CLE
1. I attach a copy of an interesting and rather gruesome report (which you, but not all of the other recipients of this letter, will have seen already) from our Ambassador in Hanoi which points to the likelihood of an increase, in the near future, in the number of people attempting to leave Vietnam in small craft. If the Ambassador's assessment proves to be correct then shipping in the area, including UK-registered vessels, may well be expected to pick up refugees i distress at sea in even greater numbers than hitherto.
2. I attach also, a copy of a recent statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which provides a summary of the major problems facing his Öffice. Pages 5 and 6 contain some further background on the refugee problem in South East Asia. The UNHCR is now planning to convene the conference (which we expected him to call) in Geneva on 11 and 12 December in an effort to help find solutions to the refugee situation in Indo-China. And I think it is clear, from his recent statement attached that he expects all countries concerned to make even greater efforts to solve the probleu.
3. Given the worsening refugee situation in Indo-China, especially that of the "boat refugees" which more directly affects our own interests, I shall aim to let you and the other recipients of this letter have progress reports from time to time. If you think there are other departments which need to be kept closely informed of developments, please let me know.
сс
Mr C Sleight
Shipping Policy Division, DOT
Mr D H Forward
Marine Division, DOT
Mr Peter Burleigh
Home Office, Queen Anne's Gate
Mr V McGee, FAO Department. ODM Mr J Hards, Disaster Unit, ODM
CONFIDENTIAL
P Morgan
UN Department
SEAD HK&GD MVD MAED
Chancery, UKMIS, Geneva