TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

CONSULTATIONS CALLED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES: GENEVA, 11-12 DECEMBER 1978

UK AIMS

1.

We wish to make a constructive input to these consultations, bearing in mind:

(i) our traditional support for the UNHCR the UK has

always been a member of his Executive Committee;

(ii) our responsibility towards Hong Kong, where there are some 4,000 Vietnamese "boat refugees" who have little prospect of resettlement elsewhere;

(iii) our wish to help and support those countries of South-

East Asia (particularly Thailand and Malaysia) with whom we have close and friendly relations;

(iv) the affront to the free world community which the

Vietnamese Government's harsh policies have caused.

TACTICS

2. The UK delegation should not seek a leading rôle because of our limited ability to absorb more refugees - we must continue to give priority to the families of immigrants and to British passport-holders especially from East Africa.

3. We consulted some of the Western and area participants before the conference: a summary of their views is at Annex A. 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.

•

21. 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 develop- ing situation. The UK should participate in any such further meetings, but not take a leading role.

POINTS TO MAKE

5.

In the light of the above considerations the UK delegation should:

(a) Admission of refugees and resettlement quotas: explain

that the UK's ability to absorb further significant numbers of Vietnamese refugees (1,306 have already been accepted) is limited because of our responsibilities

CONFIDENTIAL

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