1
3
VIETNAM COLLABORATES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
10.
At present we can place little reliance on Vietnamese
declarations of readiness to collaborate with the International Community. They attended the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
conference in Geneva last December and the Jakarta conference in February to consider an island processing centre for refugees. the flow of boat people has not abated: it has in fact increased.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE VIETNAMESE AND THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
11.
But
As My Hon Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr Blaker) said in reply to the Hon Member for Preston South, on 5 December, this agreement covers only people who have been offered or are likely to be eligible for resettlement because of links with relatives abroad. But this category is so small (it represents only about 10 days worth of refugees at the present rate of exodus) that it cannot be regarded as making a worthwhile contribution to solving the problem. Nor does it, show that the Vietnamese intend sincerely to cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner.
WILL WE CUT OFF AID TO VIETNAM?
ì
12. As I said on 3 July, we shall certainly not be giving more aid.
WILL WE TERMINATE THE CONTRACT TO ASSIST THE CONSTRUCTION
OF FOUR SHIPS FOR VIETNAM BY AID FUNDS?
13. Unfortunately it would cost us more to cancel the contract than it would to complete it.
MR BLAKER AND MR HURD'S VISITS TO GENEVA
Į
14.
My Hon Friends the Ministers of State at the Foreign and common- wealth Office, Mr Hurd and Mr Blaker had full and constructive discussions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mr Hartling, on 2 July and 18 June respectively. They drew his attention particularly to the problems faced by Hong Kong, and to the need for the major international conference which I proposed to Dr Waldheim.
/MALAYSIAN