ར
1
CABINET 12 JULY 1979:
INDO-CHINA REFUGEES
Since we last discussed this problem on 5 July, there have been further consultations about the position which we and other Governments will take at the meeting in Geneva next week.
Our own position at the conference will be untenable unless we can make a substantial offer of places for refugees and of financial support for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The Home Secretary and I have concluded that we should announce our agreement to accept a further 10,000 refugees for resettlement, all from Hong Kong. This would be additional to previous undertakings by ourselves and the previous Government. We should also raise our financial contribution substantially above the £3.5 million already committed for this year. In order to maintain our proportion of the funds which the UNHCR will need, I propose that we should offer a further £5 million, specifically earmarked for use by the UNHCR in South East Asia.
Subject to views of Cabinet, I propose that a statement should be made this afternoon in both Houses announcing our decision (draft attached).
South East Asian Department
11 July 1979
CONFIDENTIAL