1
D&H 116
HAS THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDED ANY MONEY TO HELP COUNTRIES
IN SOUTH EAST ASIA WHICH ARE HAVING TO COPE WITH
CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES?
3. Yes. Our assistance has been channelled mainly through
the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees. The United Kingdom is one of the most generous
contributors to his programmes on behalf of refugees
throughout the world. So far this year we have given over
£6 million, of which £1.5 million has been earmarked
specifically for the High Commissioner's programmes in
Indo-China. My honourable Friend also announced in Geneva
yesterday a special additional contribution of US$1 million
(or the sterling equivalent) to the High Commissioner's
Indo-China programme, subject to Parliamentary approval.
WHY DID THE GOVERNMENT NOT ACCEPT ANY OF THE REFUGEES
WHO WERE STRANDED ON THE SS HAI HONG OFF THE COAST OF
MALAYSIA?
4.
A number of other Western Governments have undertaken
to receive this group of refugees. The affair of the
ss HAI HONG is a small but tragic part of a much wider
and more complex refugee problem in Inco-China which can
only be solved by the efforts of the international
community as a whole. That is why the meeting in Geneva
has been called by the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees.
Intac
ANCATE