TNAG-0587-FCO40-720-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 43

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Sir, I need not dwell on the special population problems which Hong Kong already has. Notwithstanding these problems, Hong Kong has absorbed, since the events in Indo-China, in 1975, several thousand refugees from that region. With the help of, among others, the UNHCR, many of the refugees in this initial influx were resettled elsewhere. But others remain in the territory including some 5,000 who entered there illegally. It is therefore understandable that the granting of first asylum to the small boat refugees poses great difficulties to the Hong Kong authorities.

It is for these reasons that HMG welcomed the appeal of 28 July.

In our view, the problem can be releived only by the combined efforts of the international community. There should be a willingness by governments to grant permanent re-settlement to these people, for example, under a "Ten or More Plan". More important, this should be combined with a greater willingness on the part of other governments in the region to grant these refugees first asylum. thus giving UNHCR a chance to find permanent homes for the refugees elsewhere.

Thirdly, the United Kingdom Government view with great concern the plight of refugees in Argentina. The High Commissioner appealed on 22 July to some 34 Governments to give urgent resettlement opportunities for around 1,000 of these refugees who were thought to be in serious danger. My Government was one of the nine Governments, referred to in the High Commissioner's statement, that responded to his appeal. Indeed, it did so on 9 July, less than 20 days after the appeal was launched, and announced its willingness to take up to 75 families. This is in addition to the continuing programme whereby the United Kingdom allows Chilean refugees and their families to settle in Britain. We hope that other governments will be able to respond to this appeal in the near future.

The

Sir, the list of other groups of refugees is, sadly long. The Fourth World of the refugees is, alas, getting larger. UK has tried to maintain to the best of its ability, its tradition of granting refuge when possible and of giving financial assistance to these unfortunate people through the UNHCR. Our contributions over the past year are on record in the documents before you and total up to 31 July 1976 some $4.2 million.

In

May I move on to administrative and budgetary matters. my address to the Committee last year, I stressed the need to spread the financial burden of the work of the UNHCR.

But my reading of Document A/AC.96/528 and of informal contacts between my delegation and the Secretariat suggest that the position is still largely unchanged. It is still left to a group of around 12 Governments to carry the main financial burden of the High Commissioner's work. This is regrettable.

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