TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 10

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4.

Among Western countries it will be natural for the Americans and Australians to take the lead. France is another country with a special interest in the area. We should keep in close contact

with our EEC partners and other Western countries.

5. As refugees continue to pour into South-East Asia and beyond, it is unlikely that the two days available for the Geneva meeting will be sufficient to deal comprehensively with the problem. Further meetings or a working group of the whole (or of countries willing to help) will need to be set up to deal with the developing situation, in concert with the UNHCR who whould retain responsibility for the overall policy towards refugees. We could agree to participate, but should not take a leading role.

UK AIMS

6. In the light of these considerations, our aims at next week's conference should be:

(i)

(ii)

Admission of refugees: To explain that the UK's ability to absorb further significant numbers of Vietnamese refugees (1300 have already been accepted) is limited because of our responsibilities towards UKPH, etc. The total number of UKPH, immigrants and dependents accepted in the last two complete years (1976/77) was 18,056. The Department has recommended the Secretary of State to urge the Home Secretary to accept an additional intake of 1,500 "boát refugees" (500 each from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand); but even this would be a drop in the ocean in the face of the large numbers involved.

Observance of international obligations towards "boat refugees": To emphasise the responsibility of all ships to pick up anyone in distress at sea (the British Government has reminded ships masters through the General Council of Shipping) and the moral obligation of states in the region to allow such refugees to be landed at the first port of call. We recognise the problems this causes to countries of first asylum, which is why the UK was among the first to take ultimate responsibility for all refugees rescued by

/UK-registered

d.

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CONFIDENTIAL