PS
CONFIDENTIAL
QUADRIPARTITE MEETING, GUADELOUPE: 5-6 JANUARY 1979 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM
1. The PUS has suggested that a brief on this subject be provided for the Prime Minister's use at the Quadripartite Meeting in
Guadeloupe.
2. The UK has a dual interest in this refugee problem (a) as a
country of permanent settlement for some of the refugees and
(b) through our responsibility for Hong Kong which is on the immediate receiving end of thousands of refugees.
3.
We hope the Prime Minister will consider the Guadeloupe Meeting a useful opportunity for the heads of Government participating
to call on Vietnam to desist from its present policies. (In drafting the line to take, we have noted the views put forward by Mrs Hart to the Secretary of State on 29 December). We think the Heads of
Government might also appeal to the whole international community to
offer more resettlement places for the refugees.
4.
Accordingly, I submit a draft brief and covering letter from
Private Secretary to the Private Secretary at No. 10. SEAD and
HK&GD concur.
2 January, 1979
CONFIDENTIAL
M Reith UN Department