TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 113

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RECORD OF A MEETING BETWEEN SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND MR POUL HARTLING, UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES AT UN HEADQUARTERS, GENEVA, ON 25 JUNE 1979:

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Present:

Sir Murray MacLehose

Mr D Wilson

Mr D Ford

Sir James Murray

Mr K G MacInnes

UKMIS

Mr DR Snoxell

1.

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Mr P Hartling

roy His

Mr V Dayal, Special Assistant Mr A Ciss, Director of Assistance Mr J Cuenod, Deputy Director of

Assistance

Mr R Van Leeuwen, Asia Section Mr A Casella, Asia Section

After the opening courtesies Mr Hartling explained that although South East Asia was at present his main concern and in particular Hong Kong, he was nevertheless responsible for,all other refugee problems throughout the world. He expressed gratitude to the Governor for Hong Kong's very humane policy and added that he appreciated how very difficult the situation was there. UNHCR tried to be of maximum help and support to Hong Kong, but funds were very

They had put forward a package deal (paper attached) for the Governor's consideration. The Governor agreed that Hong Kong's humane policies stood in contrast to those of others, in the region, but it seemed as if inhumanity was being rewarded with a more favourable international response. Hong Kong was a South East Asian country like any other in the region and he was vulnerable to criticism for not dealing with the problem in an Asian way. Patience might snap; the camps were in urban areas and the police were worried that trouble could erupt quickly if people felt that Hong Kong was not being treated fairly. The Governor recognised the world-wide scope of the High Commissioner's problems and his limited resources. But the burden on Hong Kong was growing dangerously fast. The problem should be brought under control and resettlement places found as quickly as possible. Mr Hartling said that UNHCR's main interest was in final solutions; they did not like keeping people in camps for years. He hoped to double the present number of available resettlement places to 240,000, but could only ask for money in respect of the present case load and not for refugees who had not yet appeared. Some refugees should be settled locally. He had told the South East Asian governments that they could not expect the world to take all of them. If the West could take a reasonable proportion then it might be possible to persuade the region to accept the rest. He agreed that the share of resettlement places for Hong Kong was proportionately less than what other governments in the region were receiving, but he hoped that Ilong Kong's share would increase very soon. Monthly departures from the region were almost 10,000 but less than 800 were leaving Hong Kong.

2. The Governor commented that it looked as if the human policies of Hong Kong were being penalised. He was under pressure from his own people to tow out refugees and felt strongly that the offtake from Hong Kong should be proportionate to the intake and not related to the inhumanity which was being practiced by other countries. He had explained this view in Washington. The High Commissioner agreed, but added that the principle of first in first out should also be

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