TNAG-0890-FCO40-1100-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 172

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insisted in the past on guarantees from the country with which the ship was registered before allowing refugees picked up by such vessels to land at their ports. The Taiwanese have never accepted it; hence the fact that the last Government had to take refugees picked up by the Wellpark. The Singapore authorities have always refused to take refugees and the Philippines have been dfficult,

ACTION WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN IN THE LAST FORTNIGHT

3.

a.

Υ

Efforts to get the UN Secretary General to call a conference. The Prime Minister has sent a message to the Secretary General and we have been conducting a major lobbying exercise to get other countries to support the idea of a conference. This has included calling in the Ambassadors of all relevant countries in London and following up in capitals. We have spoken to all the West and East Europeans, including the Scandinavians, the five ASEAN countries, the South Asian countries, old Commonwealth countries, prominent Middle Eastern countries and seven Latin American countries. In the Caribbean we have spoken to the Cubans and the Jamaicans. The only notable exception has been the Africans where we are advised that representations would be counter-productive in view of the major refugee problems in the African continent.

b. Urging other countries to take more refugees. In the context of the lobbying exercise as a. above we have urged all those with any possibility of taking refugees or more refugees to do so. The response has so far been disappointing. Most of those to whom we have spoken have argued that their economic situation makes it difficult if not impossible for them to take refugees or more refugees as the case may be.

C.

Pressure on Vietnam. We have been urging all countries with relations with Vietnam to make representations to the Vietnamese and to put pressure on them to better conditions and thus stem the flow. The response has so far not been very encouraging although some have agreed to make representa- tions. We have also urged countries to cut off aid to Vietnam,

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/The Swedes