All bilateral, UK assistance to Vietnam was cut off
in July 1979 because of the human rights implications of
the exodus of boat-people (and also becuase of the invasion
of Cambodia).
44,000 boat-people fled Vietnam last year
and we have continued to oppose EC aid and (including
food aid) and obstruct multi-lateral development aid pro-
posals where possible (on the grounds of the misallocation of
national resources in favour of the armed forces). At the
end of the initial emergency in Cambodia we stopped contri-
buting to the UN relief programme within Cambodia. Given
last year's food production levels, it may now be wound up.
intimal
3. The French have preferred a conciliatory line, and
offered Vietnam 10,000t of food aid to mark Nguyen Co Thach's
Paris visit in April last year. The European Commission
also have discretion to contribute direct or through
voluntary agencies; and in December persevered with a grant
of 300,000 e.c.u. in response to a UN appeal following
Typhoon Nancy which struck central Vietnam in October
this despite our objections at Political Director level
and those of ASEAN members whom they made point of con-
sulting. ASEAN Ministers may complain that this move gives
Vietnam the wrong signals.
a
4. Since 1979 the Indo-Chinese refugee problem has been
managed by UNHCR on the principle of international burden-
sharing. We have taken 16,000 chiefly from Hong Kong and
on the basis of a quota which is now filled. We continue
/to
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