HKCS
1
SMEET NO
5
у
3:00 p.m.
Meeting with Mrs. Annie-Marie Sundbom, International
Secretariat of the Social Democrat Party. Mrs. Sundbom was mainly interested in the political implications of this refugee problem.
Hanoi wants to transform the whole of Vietnam into a modern socialist
state. Life would, therefore, be for some time harsh. The middle
class Chinese did not cooperate and did show no desire to change
their style of life. They, therefore, left Vietnam in large numbers.
Our argument that the disorderly armada of boat people who left without
knowing where they are going, without prospect of return, and at the
risk of drowning or dying of deprivation at sea, broke with all they
had and knew about life and are indeed refugees, did not impress her
too much. Her party is very much involved in supporting the deprived
and revolutionary classes in South America.
4:30
p.m.:
HM Ambassador, Sir Jeffrey Petersen (?) asked us to see
him. We expressed our sincere gratitude for the excellent preparations
which the Embassy had made for us and informed him of our various
experiences in Sweden. He told us that the Embassy has made similar
approaches in the past and had been told, too, that the selection of
boat refugees depends entirely upon the recommendations of the UNHCR.
He, therefore, felt that it was wise to send the Telex which we had
forwarded to HE the Governor also to the Foreign Office in London.
The Ambassador asked us to send him a copy of our report.