TNAG-0879-FCO40-1089-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 25

DSR 11C

IS IT NOT TRUE THAT THE REAL REASON FOR THE EXODUS IS SIMPLY THE HARSHNESS OF ECONOMIC LIFE IN VIETNAM?

9. It is a contributory factor, but clearly not the whole

story. Thousands of innocent people are hardly likely to

risk their lives simply to achieve a better standard of

living. They are fleeing a country about which there have

been reports of detention without trial for employees of the

previous regime for the purpose of "re-education", and

restrictions on personal, political, religious and other

freedoms.

WHAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT DO THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES?

For

10. In 1978, we provided nearly £7 million, of which over

£2 million was earmarked for the Indo-China programme.

1979, we have pledged £3.5 million and will, as always,

sympathetically consider the High Commissioner's special

appeals whenever they are made.

DO THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPT THAT THEY HAVE A PARTICULAR RESI ONSIBILITY TO HELP HONG KONG IN ARRANGING THE RESETTLEMENT

OF THE LARGE NUMBERS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN GIVEN TEMPORARY ASYLUM THERE?

11. Yes: that is why we have agreed that 1,000 out of the

1,500 Vietnamese refugees who are to be admitted to Britain

should come from Hong Kong. We have also approached other

governments on behalf of Hong Kong to ask them to take more

refugees from Hong Kong.

Dd 0532000 400 M 5178. HMSO Arachnall