-6-
these were two very good questions.
UNHCR had told the Thais
that they could provide $20 million for self-sufficiency projects to settle the refugees, but the Thais were anxious that life should not be made so comfortable for them as to attract more. Although the Vietnamese had repeatedly said they would cooperate with UNHCR, Mr Hartling did not know if they intended to expel another 1 million and wondered whether their inter- national image could stand this. Mr Murray pointed out that the Malaysians were afraid of disturbing the demographic balance by an influx of more Chinese. Mr Hartling felt that the problem could be solved, given cooperation by Vietnam and real willingness on the part of the rest of the world. Sir J Murray pointed out that the political strains set up in SE Asian countries by the Chinese communities were enormous and Mr Hartling confirmed that the Chinese had told him that Vietnam regarded every ethnic Chinese as a spy.
15. Mr Murray asked about the High Commissioner's visit to China and the latter explained that it had been arranged on the basis that he was making a private visit as a former Prime Minister. Nevertheless, he had taken two colleagues along with him and had spent much time discussing refugees. This had greatly improved the contact between UNHCR and the Chinese, so much so that over the Norse Viking the UNHCR were able to ask the Chinese Ambassador in Geneva to allow the refugees to disembark, although in the event this was refused. The Chinese had shown themselves amenable to family re-unification, although they considered most of the ethnic Chinese as overseas Chinese rather than refugees. Mr Dayal added that the Chinese
had yet to respond to the High Commissioner's proposals put to them during his visit, to help settle refugees in China. The Chinese were now fully informed and reference s to UNHCR were appearing in their newspapers. The High Commissioner confirmed he had discussed Hong Kong's problems with China.
16.
In conclusion, Mr Jaeger said that if the conference were to be political it should be held in New York. Mr Hartling said that if it were humanitarian and he got the commitments he needed for resettlement places in advance there would be no need for a conference anyway.
20 June 1979
UKMIS GENEVA
Distribution: PS Mr Blaker
Mr Cortazzi
Mr D Murray
SEAD
HKGD
UND
Political Adv. Hong Kong Chancery, UKMIS New York Chancery, Washington HE/HOC (UKMIS) Geneva Mr Snoxel1 (UKMIS Geneva)
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