TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 110

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Vietnamese Refugees 15 DECEMBER 1978

[Mr. Luce.]

We know from all the evidence the gross internal repression of the last two My or three years in these countries. hon. Friend talked of the size of the gave various refugee problem and figures. I have read--perhaps the Minis- ter will correct me if I am wrong--that about 700,000 people have been up- rooted and left the three Indo-Chinese countries since 1975. There are different ethnic groups, such as the Meo hill tribes- men of Laos, the ethnic Chinese from Vietnam, and the boat people from Viet- nam, many of whom are by background middle class professional people who have made a contribution to their country. We have heard terrible stories of their plight at sea as they struggle to seek freedom from the repression of their own country.

We are witnessing the consequences of The repressive Communist regimes. evidence is there for the whole world to see, that life in Communist country is not, as they promise, heaven on earth but hell on earth. The evidence is there and there are many lessons for us.

I hope that the Minister will make a report upon the recent meeting of 40 countries-I believe that he attended on behalf of the British Government-at Geneva for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. I hope that he will clarify the British Government's position.

Of course, I accept that there is a re- quirement for Britain in its total approach to see this problem in a humane and other practical way--in concert with nations. The United Kingdom has made substantial financial contributions to the work of the United Nations High Com- mission for Refugees, but we must ack- nowledge the remarkable contribution of voluntary bodies, such as the Save the Children Fund, which I saw in Thailand

bodies which are raising money from the British people, who feel that those organisations can make a contribution.

We are in a special position because of the density of our population and the recent immigration problems from which we have suffered. In my discussions in the Far East I found a clear acceptance face particular difficulties. Although we have had a reputation over many centuries for receiving refugees, we

that we

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face intense problems. I do not think that there is any great pressure on us to accept a substantial number of refugees. We have made a token gesture.

I believe that Britain can help in other ways, and I hope that I am right in say- ing that that is generally accepted by the international community. We recognise that Thailand and Malaysia have particu- lar problems and cannot be expected to absorb all the refugees.

I ask the Minister to clarify Govern- ment thinking, having regard to certain considerations. It is to be hoped that there will not be a repeat of the Palestine refugee problem, with all the consequent problems to which it has given rise since the war. My hon. Friend said that there should be proper transit facilities, staging post facilities, and that every assistance should be given to their provision. I hope that the Minister will comment and answer my hon. Friend's question whether it is possible to find in some part of the world an area of land or an island where the refugees can be helped.

There is also the question of dispersal. Some countries-in particular Australia, the United States and France-have made an effort to take in some of the refugees. My hon. and learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield highlighted the fact that many of them are ethnically Chinese, and said that consideration should be given to China's taking on a substantial res- ponsibility. I hope that the Minister will say what discussions there were in Geneva about that.

I come to the need for an allied effort. Britain should take a leading role, not only with the United Nations High Com- missioner for Refugees but clsewhere. After all, we are a member of the Com- monwealth, and Malaysia and Hong Kong face problems. There should be a Com- monwealth approach_to_their_problems. With the Association of South East Asian Nations partners now growing in strength, we have important ties with them. The European Community has just had a dis- cussion with the ASEAN Foreign Minis- ters, and I hope that the matter can be seen in that context as well.

Our long-term objective must be to persuade the Indo-China regimes, through international effort, to create conditions in which there is once again respect for individual rights, for the freedom of the