TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 103

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

Daniel Cooke Esq "Casa Londres" 25 Charldane Road New Eltham London SE9 3PF

HKK 243/1

Telephone 01- 233 8631

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 4 NOV 1978

DESK OF O

INDEX

Your reference

Our reference

Date

23 November 1978

RY

REP

Action Ten

ALE

I have been asked to thank you for, and to reply to, your letter of 14 November to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary about the plight of the Vietnamese refugees off the coast of Malaysia.

We share your concern for these unfortunate refugees. Representatives in Malaysia of a number of Western countries recently joined the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in making a démarche to the Malaysian Government urging that, on humanitarian grounds, the refugees aboard the SS Hai Hong be allowed to land, at least temporarily.

The Indo-Chinese refugee problem is a difficult one: some states in the region consider their intake of refugees has already reached saturation point. Its resolution is one for the international community as a whole. In an effort to find practical solutions, therefore, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called international consultations to take place in Geneva next month. The United Kingdom will participate in these.

Britain's contribution to a solution to this problem is not, as I am sure you know, significant. We have accepted a responsibility for all refugees rescued by vessels registered in the United Kingdom. We have already accepted 1,236 Indo-Chinese into Britain, including the 346 evacuated in October from Taiwan. In addition, we expect to receive soon well over 100 who were rescued recently by other British vessels and we are also hoping to be able to alleviate Hong Kong's burden: the Colony has received many thousands of Vietnamese refugees. There are currently about 4,000 there who have little prospect of resettlement elsewhere.

Regarding those on the SS Hai Hong, we do very much hope humanitarian considerations will prevail. Our representatives in Kuala Lumpur are keeping in very close touch on this matter with representatives there of other governments. I understand that consular officials of both France and Canada yesterday boarded the vessel to begin interviewing the refugees with a view to their eventual resettlement in those countries.

bec: SEAD

HK&GD

Mr C Birt,

Home Office

P Morgan

United Nations Department