2.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE VIETNAMESE AND THE UNITED NATIONS' HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
4.
The agreement covers only people who have had offers of re-
settlement because of links with relatives abroad, But this
category is so small (it represents only about 10 days' worth of
refugees at
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.
STRESS ON HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS IN DR WALDHEIM'S ANNOUNCEMENT
5. The conference can hardly avoid giving some consideration to
the root cause of the exodus, which lies in the behaviour of the
Vietnamese Government.
HOW MANY REFUGEES HAVE WE AGREED TO ACCEPT AND HOW MANY HAVE ALREADY REACHED THIS COUNTRY?
6. Between Spring 1975 and 27 June this year, we agreed to
accept 4,466 people from Indo-China.
3,168 are now in this
country, including the majority of the refugees saved by the
MV Sibonga and all those from the MV Roach Bank.
WILL BRITAIN TAKE MORE REFUGEES?
7. The special statement on Indo-Chinese refugees issued at
Summit Meeting in Tokyo on 28 June makes clear that the commit-
ment to admit more people takes into account the existing social
and economic circumstances in each country.
WILL WE PROVIDE MORE MONEY FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES?
8.
For 1979 we have already pledged £3.5 million for his general
programme, which includes work on behalf of South East Asian
refugees; this represents over 8% of his budget. [We considering his appeal for extra funds].
are
19.