INDO CHINA REFUGEES
DRAFT NUCLEUS OF WINDING-UP SPEECH
This is perhaps one of the most serious and difficult of all
the refugee problems in the world today. It is a particularly
tragic problem because so many innocent people are losing their
lives. We believe that hundreds of thousands of refugees have
fled various countries in South East Asia since the events of
1975. The British Government have every sympathy for the plight
of the refugees and share the concern of this House for them.
The Government also sympathise with those territories in South
East Asia which are having to shoulder an immense burden in
coping with the influx of the refugees. The rapid and increasing
exodus from Vietnam in particular has placed an intolerable
strain on some countries in the region.
D
As I told the House on 31 January, in reply to a Question from
my noble friend Lord Harris of Greenwich, the Government fully
support the action being taken by the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees. He is striving for solutions to
this most difficult and complex problem. The Government applaud
the commendable success he has already had in satisfactorily
resettling tens of thousands of refugees from Indo China.
Unfortunately, however, the case-load of those still requiring
resettlement grows larger every day. There are estimated to be
nearly 70,000 boat people who still require to be resettled.
Most are in Malaysia but large numbers are also in Hong Kong,
/and
7
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.