TNAG-0654-FCO40-803-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 147

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c) Western Governments should be urged to persuade Governments in South East Asia. that if they were to resettle displaced persons in their countries, this would · ultimately benefit their own people.

d) There was naturally suspicion of refugees from a neighbouring country with different type of government. This could be overcome by shifting camps further from the borders.

e) Fresh efforts were being made by Ockenden and others through Project Hand in London and YMCA in Thailand to improve the handicraft schemes and to arrange marketing facilities in the West. It was not possible to sell the goods in Thailand because of the local trade.

f) The Vietnamese refugees interviewed by Joyce Pearce were mostly from rural back- grounds and it was hoped to arrange settlement in rural areas. The more educated who were able to express themselves, seemed to have left because they disliked being "directed" under the new plan. The uneducated who had no possessions had no real incentive for leaving but sensed that they would have little freedom if they stayed.

g) PVO had reported that Aranyaprathet had recently been greatly improved. The ground had been very polluted; drainage and water supplies had been difficult but some wells had been lined; self help projects had been encouraged.

h) PVO was hoping to extend their work but had been prevented by the Government from starting up with the boat people in Lam Singh.

i) The position of the Philippines was difficult. There had been close relations with South Vietnam and there had been a special link Operation Brotherhood - to provide help to Vietnam and Laos. It was unlikely that Vietnamese refugees would be

sent back.

j) Both Thailand and Philippines had had problems with earlier refugees from Vietnam for years before the end of the war. They had been very unpopular. Most countries of South East Asia had been suspicious of Vietnam because of its previous history.

The problem of the "boat people" was discussed in detail.

Countries were still refusing to receive these boats; it was therefore urgent for settlement offers to be made so that these countries could be persuaded to give temporary asylum.

The UK was not yet considering taking people from Philippines; Ockenden had asked the UNHCR's representative in Manila for names sent to the British Embassy and might be able to take some.

It was not considered desirable that large numbers of the "boat people" should come to the West but for some there seemed no alternative. The Chairman of the Europe Committee had written to Mr. Evan Luard (FCO) asking that the quota of 150 should be extended to cover some from the SS Leap Dal and the SS Roland.

Mr. Morgan (FCO) reported that a British ship on its way to Brunei had picked up 37 people including pregnant women, some people with TB and 19 children. In spite of offers by UNHCR to pay for maintenance in Brunei and approaches by the British High Commissioner, Brunei refused temporary asylum. The Home Office had been asked to accept the group but could not do so within the quota and in any case over 100 were now waiting in Hong Kong and they were to be given preference.

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