CONFIDENTIAL
CONSULTATIONS CALLED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES: GENEVA, 11-12 DECEMBER 1978
UK AIMS
1.
We wish to make a constructive input to these consultations, bearing in mind:
(i) our traditional support for the UNHCR the UK has
always been a member of his Executive Committee;
(ii) our responsibility towards Hong Kong, where there are some 4,000 Vietnamese "boat refugees" who have little prospect of resettlement elsewhere;
(iii) our wish to help and support those countries of South-
East Asia (particularly Thailand and Malaysia) with whom we have close and friendly relations;
(iv) the affront to the free world community which the
Vietnamese Government's harsh policies have caused.
TACTICS
2. The UK delegation should not seek a leading rôle because of our limited ability to absorb more refugees - we must continue to give priority to the families of immigrants and to British passport-holders especially from East Africa.
3. We consulted some of the Western and area participants before the conference: a summary of their views is at Annex A. Among Western countries it will be natural for the Americans and Australians to take the lead. France is another country with a special interest in the area. We should keep in close contact with our EEC partners and other Western countries.
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21. As refugees continue to pour into South-East Asia and beyond, it is unlikely that the two days available for the Geneva meeting will be sufficient to deal comprehensively with the problem. Further meetings or a working group of the whole (or of countries willing to help) will need to be set up to deal with the develop- ing situation. The UK should participate in any such further meetings, but not take a leading role.
POINTS TO MAKE
5.
In the light of the above considerations the UK delegation should:
(a) Admission of refugees and resettlement quotas: explain
that the UK's ability to absorb further significant numbers of Vietnamese refugees (1,306 have already been accepted) is limited because of our responsibilities
CONFIDENTIAL
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