TNAG-0885-FCO40-1095-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 108

2.

FASURES FOR INDOCHINESE REFUGEES

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS MADE BY THE FOREIGN MINISTER AT THE CABINET MEETING ON APRIL 3, 1979)

THE INCREASE OF THE REFUGEES FROM INDOCHINA HAS BECOME A CAUSE OF INSTABILITY IN THE AISAN-PACIFIC REGION, AND THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE LEFT AS IT IS FROM THE HUMANITARIAN VIEWPOINT. EXPECTATIONS ARE MOUNTING INTERNATIONALLY AND IN ASIAN COUNTRIES IN PARTICULAR FOR JAPAN TO PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE FOR TACKLING THIS PROBLEM. IN VIEW OF THESE POINTS, IT IS NECESSARY FOR JAPAN TO GRAPPLE 'ITH THE PROBLEM IN A POSITIVE MANNER. FROM THIS VIEWPOINT, IT IS A MATTER FOR GRATIFICATION THAT VARIOUS MEASURES FOR THE RESETTLEMENT IN JAPAN. OF REFUGEES HAVE BEEN APPROVED. BY THIS CABINET MEETING.

IN ADDITION TO THE 3 MEASURES THAT HAVE JUST BEEN APPROVED (NAMELY, (1) TO MAKE EFFORTS FOR REALIZING THE RESETTLEMENT OF UP TO 500 DISPLACED PERSONS, (2) TO SOFTEN THE CONDITIONS FOR PERMITTING RESETTLEMENT AND TO APPLY THEM WITH FLEXIBILITY AND (3) TO TAKE VARIOUS MEASURES FOR HELPING THESE DISPLACED PERSONS WHO DESIRE TO RESETTLE IN JAPAN), IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO COMPREHENSIVELY TACKLE THE DISPLACED PERSONS PROBLEM BY TAKING THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL MEASURES. (I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE COOPERATION OF THE MINISTERS CONCERNED AS NECESSARY.)

(1) THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO REQUEST THE GOVERNMENT

•OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM TO RESTRAIN THE OUTFLOW OF DISPLACED PERSONS.

(2) THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO EXTEND DUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE OFFICE OF THE UNHCR.

(3) PROVIDED THAT FEASIBILITIES ARE ASCERTAINED REGARDING A REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTER (THE ASEAN CONCEPT), THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER TO ASSUME AN APPROPRIATE SHARE

OF ITS COST IN CONCERT WITH OTHER MAJOR ADVANCED COUNTRIES.

•

(4) · THE GOVERNMENT WILL EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING BILATERAL ASSISTANCE IF REQUESTED BY THE

· COUNTRIES WHERE A LARGE NUMBER OF DISPLACED PERSONS ARE TEMPORARILY STAYING.

(5) THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE EFFORTS SO AS TO SEEK APPROVAL OF THE ACCESSION TO THE CONVENTION RELATING TO THE STATUS OF REFUGEES AND ITS PROTOCOL AT ITS NEXT REGULAR SESSION.