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HKK 243/1
A E Furness Esq
JAKARTA
RECEIVED IN REG.STRY NO. Your reference
2 1 JUN 1979
Our reference
DESK OFFICER
RF
IND
PA
etion
19 June 1979
JAKARTA CONFERENCE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROCESSING CENTRE FOR INDO-CHINA REFUGEES
1.
Thank you for your letters of 21 and 22 May and 1 June. These were most useful and will also be helpful to the ODA when the time comes to consider a UK contribution. We shall await with interest the results of the UNHCR's feasibility study.
2. We found your third letter under reference particularly inter- esting. The pressure of increasing numbers of Vietnamese refugees seems to have overtaken the Indonesian Government's offer of the island facilities to any other territories in the region (including ASEAN countries). The latest twist in the spiral, with the Govern- ment's announcement of 13 June that they would give no further arrivals temporary asylum, emphasises how serious the situation has become.
3.
Since the Indo-China refugee problem has assumed much greater proportions, resulting in intense diplomatic activity by the British Government following the Prime Minister's call to the United Nations Secretary General to convene a special conference, responsibilities for the subject within the Office have had to be redefined. SEAD now lead on this specific refugee problem. UND continue to advise on the UN aspects: Clive Stitt is the desk officer SEAD.
CC:
Chanceries:
UKMis Geneva Washington
SEAD
HK&GD UND(B)/ODA
P Morgan
United Nations Department
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