CABINET 19 JULY
SPEAKING NOTE: INDO CHINA REFUGEES
רי
As agreed in Cabinet on 12 July, The Lord Privy Seal and I announced
to Parliament yesterday the Government's decision to accept a further
10,000 refugees from Indo-China for resettlement here, over a period
to be agreed with the Governor of Hong Kong. I also announced our
decision to make a further £5million available for dealing with
the refugee problem in South East Asia over the next 12 months.
Both Houses gave the statement a favourable and encouraging response.
At the meeting which opens in Geneva tomorrow, I shall speak after
Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Ireland (as Presidency of the European
Community). I propose to emphasise in my speech the need for genuine
freedom of choice for the people of Vietnam over whether to leave
their country or not, the need for a major international effort
a to save lives and relieve pressure on the States directly effected
by the exodus, as well as others concerned such as the owners of
ships rescuing refugees, and in particular, the need for Hong Kong
to get its fair share of resettlement places.
It is too soon to say how the conference will go, but it is
CABALIKIŞİD
Vietnam will attend at Deputy Prime Minister
level, and
current indications suggests that the Soviet
Union will attend also. I would propose to make a further statement
in Parliament next week.
CONFIDENTIAL