TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 182

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

Telephone 01-233-8631

270

C Birt Esq

Home Office

Immigration and Nationality Department

Lunar House, Croydon

Ma Morgan with

discussed

I think fisa

useful play to shape

pressure on the

Your reference

Our reference

Date

45/

HKK 243

6 November, 1978

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

- 8 NOV 1978

DESK OPOR

PS

RY

ction T

"BOAT REFUGEES" FROM VIETNAM

INDEX

PA

No ab CLE

1. I attach a copy of an interesting and rather gruesome report (which you, but not all of the other recipients of this letter, will have seen already) from our Ambassador in Hanoi which points to the likelihood of an increase, in the near future, in the number of people attempting to leave Vietnam in small craft. If the Ambassador's assessment proves to be correct then shipping in the area, including UK-registered vessels, may well be expected to pick up refugees i distress at sea in even greater numbers than hitherto.

2. I attach also, a copy of a recent statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which provides a summary of the major problems facing his Öffice. Pages 5 and 6 contain some further background on the refugee problem in South East Asia. The UNHCR is now planning to convene the conference (which we expected him to call) in Geneva on 11 and 12 December in an effort to help find solutions to the refugee situation in Indo-China. And I think it is clear, from his recent statement attached that he expects all countries concerned to make even greater efforts to solve the probleu.

3. Given the worsening refugee situation in Indo-China, especially that of the "boat refugees" which more directly affects our own interests, I shall aim to let you and the other recipients of this letter have progress reports from time to time. If you think there are other departments which need to be kept closely informed of developments, please let me know.

сс

Mr C Sleight

Shipping Policy Division, DOT

Mr D H Forward

Marine Division, DOT

Mr Peter Burleigh

Home Office, Queen Anne's Gate

Mr V McGee, FAO Department. ODM Mr J Hards, Disaster Unit, ODM

CONFIDENTIAL

P Morgan

UN Department

SEAD HK&GD MVD MAED

Chancery, UKMIS, Geneva