Mr
Quastell 82517.
mention of Hong Kong's quandary. Presumably, this
is
undustood
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RE
DECK GYTH
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has been
fully doccine before
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CABINET MEETING 5 JULY
SPEAKING NOTE: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
1.
cafus
RS
PS/LPS Psim Blake m bertazzi
SEAD
HKGO
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In Tokyo on 28 June, we subscribed to the "Special Statement"
committing us, as part of an international effort, "significantly [to]
increase our contributions to Indo-Chinese refugee relief and
+
resettlement by making more funds available and by admitting more
people, while taking into account the existing social and economic
nces
#
circumstances in each country.
2. On 30 June Waldheim announced his decision "to convene an
international meeting to deal with the problem of Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons" to take in Geneva on 20-21 July at Ministerial
level. The meeting "should deal with all humanitarian aspects" of the
'problem. The FCO gave the announcement a qualified welcome, though
pointing out that political aspects could not be overlooked. Prime Minister has told Waldheim that the United Kingdom will participate
3
*
The
Mr Hartling told Mr Hurd on 2 July that. Waldheim intended to open
the meeting but would leave shortly afterwards; Hartling would then
take the chair. Mr Hurd who saw Waldheim on 4 July asked him to
preside throughout. Waldheim is visiting London on 12 July.
#
4. The UN Secretariat have told us that 72 governments are invited,
omitting the Soviet Union and all Eastern European countries except
Yugoslavia. It is important that the Russians and the other Eastern Europeans attend: otherwise it will be easier for them to wash their
hands of the consequences of the Vietnamese Government's actions.
The Prime Minister urged Mr Kosygin to bring pressure to bear on
Vietnam, but received an unhelpful answer.
5. On 30 June the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Bali gave notice that
they would send Vietnamese in their country back to Vietnam if these were not accepted by resettlement countries within a reasonable time.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.