TNAG-0794-FCO40-998-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 174

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Poul Hartling, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),

has responsibility for protecting and caring for these refugees.

He is hoping that the present Geneva consultations will go some way

towards providing a solution. At the very least, he hopes the

meeting will produce additional resettlement places in third

countries for the refugees as well as additional financial resources

to help him cope with the increasing numbers.

5. The ability of the UK to absorb significant numbers of refugees

is limited, because of our continuing responsibilities towards UK

passport holders, mainly from East Africa, and families of immigrants

from the sub-continent. Nevertheless, the Home Secretary is

examining urgently and sympathetically the possibility of accepting

further refugees from the region.

6.

The UK has already accepted 1,306 Indo-Chinese refugees.

to 100 more will be arriving this month and next from Singapore

and Manila: these were rescued earlier by British vessels and

could not be found resettlement places in other countries.

Up

7. The Government has, through the General Council of British

Shipping, reminded ships masters of their duties, within the law,

to rescue anyone in distress at sea when it is within their power

to do so. The Government have undertaken to receive into the UK

for settlement refugees rescued by UK-registered vessels who are

not acceptable for resettlement in other countries.

CONFIDENTIAL.

18.