TNAG-0880-FCO40-1090-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 108

CONFIDENTIAL

L

Mm. Que will honey on sympathy, short on practical offers of help.

in

W. Antill

In Yxchaven. Herewith the list of countries approached

Yü

Rii

and their response

re the resettlement of

72

Vietnamese refugees from Hongkong frillian

RESPONSE FROM CERTAIN COUNTRIES TO REQUEST FROM HMG TO

ACCEPT FOR SETTLEMENT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG

AS AT 30 JANUARY 1979

1.

Berne

2.

Bonn

3.

Brasilia

4.

Brussels

5. Buenos Aires

6.

Canberra

7. Copenhagen

8. Dublin

9.

The Hague

9.

(a) Luxembourg

Note:

10. Oslo

<

Hopes to take 40-50 each quarter in 1979 from SE Asia. Will give due weight to UK's request.

Some priority given to those with relatives in FRG. Every possibility of more German assistance but no guarantees forthcoming at the moment.

Vietnamese refugees a regional problem to be dealt with by the countries in the region. No prospect of a change in policy, at least during the present administration.

Submitting to Minister. No reply as yet.

In December agreed to accept 100 and are now considering HMG's request.

Hard and uncompromising. Australia had accepted more refugees per capita than any other country. No increase in Hong Kong quota at present.

Little prospect of any immediate help. The Danes have just agreed to take any genuine refugees picked up by their ships. Recommend that UNHCR approach them.

Perhaps possible to take in a small number of refugees but Ireland will work through UNHCR, whose priority areas they thought to be Malaysia or Thailand.

Quota of 300 for 1979 to be allocated by UNHCR. No increase possible.

Will take 25 from Hong Kong.

Luxembourg was not on the list of those tobe approached)

Norway had recently considered the problem of Vietnamese refugees and had decided it could not offer places other than to those picked up by Norwegian vessels. Formal reply still awaited.

/11.