The Indo-China
[ 18 JULY 1979]
1429 have done a great deal, particularly -to single out three countries-the United States, France and Australia, who have done a very great deal in accepting refugees, and of course the Community itself, when the Foreign Ministers met not long ago, discussed this matter and we issued a statement about the refugee problem, as indeed did the seven when they met at Tokyo a few weeks ago. So a great deal has been done, and though I am not sure whether all the countries are prepared to accept the targets which have been given to them, I know that a great many have and I am sure that all the countries will do what they can.
The Earl of SELKIRK: My Lords, is the noble Lord able to give an estimate of the number of persons involved and the number of deaths that have already taken place, or are such figures not available?
Lord CARRINGTON; Not really, my Lords, but at the moment there are several hundred thousand to be resettled; I cannot remember the exact figure, but it is 200,000 or 300,000. Of course, what is even worse is that we believe that about half of those who left Vietnam, or perhaps even more than half, have drowned on the way either to Hong Kong or Malaysia.
Lord SHINWELL: My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord the Foreign Secretary whether the Press report that the Soviet Union is to be represented at the Geneva Conference is correct, whether he has been informed to that effect, and whether at the same time he has any information about the Chinese People's Republic being represented?
Lord CARRINGTON: My Lords, I think that the Chinese will be represented, but I am not quite sure about the Soviet Government. Cetainly my impression has been that the Soviet Government and the countries of Eastern Europe do not recognise that there is a problem.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROY: My Lords, while I am sure that the Govern- ment will clearly do their very best to help find solutions for these unfortunate refugees, may I ask my noble friend whether he can give any further assurance to the British shipping industry concerning refugees who have been rescued by British ships? Will the Government at the
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Refugee Problem Geneva Conference be pressing for the enforcement of the understanding con- cerning acceptance at the first port of call, and will it be possible for the Govern- ment to give first priority in the United Kingdom quota to those refugees who have been rescued by British ships?
Lord CARRINGTON: My Lords, this is a real problem, and indeed there have been considerable difficulties facing British shipowners as a result of it. I hope very much that the Geneva Conference may be able to do something to help in this particular regard. I will look into the other matter that the noble Lord raises.
Lord BROCKWAY: My Lords, in view of the fact that the conference is to last for only two days and has to deal with an enormous problem of the re- settlement of the boat people, can the Minister give us an assurance that the British contribution will prevent the conference being bogged down over political differences about responsibilities, on which there are different views, and that it will really address itself to the humanitarian problem of dealing with the condition of these people?
Lord CARRINGTON: My Lords, I do not know of any different views about the responsibility for what has happened, but I entirely agree with the noble Lord that the conference is a humanitarian con- ference and must come up with some solutions which are on a scale to deal with the problem. Certainly Her Majesty's Government's intention is precisely that, as was shown in my Statement. I think it very important that there should be an adequate follow-up.
My
Lord REDCLIFFE-MAUD: Lords, is the noble Lord aware of the great satisfaction that his Statement will give to the voluntary organisations. Is he also aware that those organisations are indeed ready to back up any support that the British Government are able to give and any assurances on behalf of Great Britain that we will not be behind- hand in the future as in the past in dealing with this infamy? Further, is the noble Lord also aware of the great admiration which some of us have for the personal part that he has already played in this business?