DSR 11C
IS IT NOT TRUE THAT THE REAL REASON FOR THE EXODUS IS SIMPLY THE HARSHNESS OF ECONOMIC LIFE IN VIETNAM?
9. It is a contributory factor, but clearly not the whole
story. Thousands of innocent people are hardly likely to
risk their lives simply to achieve a better standard of
living. They are fleeing a country about which there have
been reports of detention without trial for employees of the
previous regime for the purpose of "re-education", and
restrictions on personal, political, religious and other
freedoms.
WHAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT DO THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES?
For
10. In 1978, we provided nearly £7 million, of which over
£2 million was earmarked for the Indo-China programme.
1979, we have pledged £3.5 million and will, as always,
sympathetically consider the High Commissioner's special
appeals whenever they are made.
DO THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPT THAT THEY HAVE A PARTICULAR RESI ONSIBILITY TO HELP HONG KONG IN ARRANGING THE RESETTLEMENT
OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN TEMPORARY ASYLUM THERE?
11. Yes: that is why we have agreed that 1,000 out of the
1,500 Vietnamese refugees who are to be admitted to Britain
should come from Hong Kong. We have also approached other
governments on behalf of Hong Kong to ask them to take more
refugees from Hong Kong.
Dd 0532000 400 M 5178. HMSO Arachnall