TNAG-0878-FCO40-1088-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 174

7/12.

CONFIDENTIAL

UND

UNS 24.3/4.

Kint Cimma Roberts B. Mr Auart

$36

B PUD:

HOME SECRETARY

Mr Cortaza

SEAD.

Mr MURRAY

-HKGD.

FCS/78/208

Mr Figs.

FED.

Mr Weir.

MVA

New's Delt

DID.

Indo-Chinese Refugees

I am concerned about the increasing problem of Indo-Chinese refugees. Thailand and Malaysia are extremely hard hit, with 130,000 and 40,000 refugees respectively, and face the prospect of many more to come. The so-called boat people have been streaming out of Vietnam, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at the rate of over 12,000 a month. The figure for November may be much higher.

2. The ASEAN countries are deeply worried; and I attach an extract from the Final Declaration of the EEC/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on 21 November. Since then the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand have visited London and both have told me that their governments cannot cope without more international help, essentially to reduce the refugee population in their camps.

3.

3.

Poul Hartling, the UNHCR, has called a meeting in Geneva on 11/12 December to discuss the matter. I enclose a copy of his invitation. We shall have to be well represented at this meeting. My officials are in touch with yours about this.

4.

There can be no doubt that the Vietnamese government is behind the exodus, and that the unfortunate boat people are being fleeced before leaving. We shall ensure, at the Geneva meeting, that Vietnam's responsibility is clearly brought out, and that everything possible is done to deal with the problem at source. We are looking urgently at what steps might be taken, e.g. in the aid field. But, realistically, we cannot expect much change at any rate in the short term.

5. For humanitarian reasons connected with the refugees' political state, and because the ASEAN countries are our friends we should do our best to help them. The Americans announced a few days ago that they will take in a further 21,000 Indo-Chinese refugees. West Germany

CONFIDENTIAL

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