TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 127

V 27815 24460

INDEP G

COILON G

See /356

HKK 243/1

RELEAVIN

INDEX

18 DEC

No Pr

355

RETRACT 95214DEC

ATTENTION HONGKONG AND GENERAL DEPT.

ROOM 242

KING CHARLES ST.

RE YR FONE/MSGE TO COI/TELEGRAPH ROOM ERE NW COPY OF OUR RETRACT 82612DEC

FCO SPOKESMAN 12 DEC 1978

INDO CHINA REFUGEES

SPOKESMAN SAID THAT MR LUARD WOULD BE RETURNING THIS AFTERNOON FROM GENEVA WHERE HE HAD ATTENDED THE UNCHR CONFERENCE ON REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA. AT THAT MEETING HE HAD ANNOUNCED THAT, SUBJECT TO PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS MAKING AVAIL- ABLE A FURTHER ONE MILLION DOLLARS ASSISTANCE FOR THE UNCHR INDO- CHINA PROGRAMME. ASKED TO COMMENT ON REPORTS THAT BRITAIN WAS PLANNING TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES, SPOKESMAN SAID THAT MR LUARD HAD TOLD THE CONFERENCE THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS URGENTLY AND SYMPATHETICALLY CONSIDERING THE QUESTION OF ACCEPTING MORE. ASKED WHETHER THIS WAS IN CONNECTION WITH THE REFUGEES AT PRESENT IN HONG KONG, SPOKESMAN SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER THE CONSIDERATION OF SUCH AN INCREASE WAS GEARED TO ANY SPECIAL GROUP OR WHETHER IT WAS A GENERAL POLICY DECISION. ASKED HOW MANY REFUGEES WERE AT PRESENT IN HONGKONG, SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 4000 WHO COULD NOT BE SETTLED ELSEWHERE BUT BRITAIN DID NOT (NOT) HAVE ANY AUTOMATIC COMMITMENT TO TAKE THEM. THERE WERE REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA ALL OVER SOUTH EAST ASIA AND HE COULD NOT SAY WHERE ANY INCREASE IN THE BRITISH INTAKE MIGHT COME FROM.

SPOKESMAN WAS ASKED WHETHER THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE REPLIED THAT THEY ALSO HAD BEEN AT YESTERDAY'S MEETING IN GENEVA AND MR LUARD HAD MENTIONED THE QUESTION OF REPORTS THAT SOME REFUGEES HAD BEEN FORCED TO PAY MONEY AND GOLD TO VIETNAMESE OFFIC- IALS TO ENABLE THEM TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

CENTROFORM LONDON

SENT TELEX AT

27815

24460

INDEP G

CCILON G

1609/14 CGA