IS THERE A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM?
5. A solution requires a combination of factors including (a) that
the Vietnamese Government change their reprehensible internal policies
which are causing the exodus, (b) that sufficient resettlement places
be made available for those awaiting resettlement, and (c) that ample
funds be provided to the High Commissioner for Refugees to help the
large number of refugees presently in South-East Asia.
BUT IS IT NOT TRUE THAT THE MORE REFUGEES SATISFACTORILY RESETTLED THE MORE WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO LEAVE?
6. That may be true. It is paradoxical.
The more successful we are,
All the more important,
the more difficult the problem may become.
therefore, that Vietnam be encouraged to change its harsh policies.
WHAT PRESSURES HAVE THE GOVERNMENT BROUGHT TO BEAR ON VIETNAM?
7. We have left the Vietnamese authorities in no doubt of our
abhorrence of their human rights record. My Rt Hon Friend the
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told the
Vietnamese Ambassador on 23 January how much we deplored the practice
of putting people on boats against payment of money in the hope that
other countries in the area would take them in.
IS IT TRUE THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ARE WILFULLY EXPELLING
THEIR ETHNIC CHINESE POPULATION FOR FINANCIAL GAIN?
8. Yes.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIKELY TO FLEE VIETNAM IN THE FUTURE?
9.
Difficult to say. Naturally much will depend on the attitude of
the Vietnamese Government. There are over one million people of ethnic
Chinese origin still in Vietnam.
WHAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT DO THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES?
10. In 1978, we provided nearly £7 million, of which over £2 million
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