TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 132

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8. The conference proposed by the Prime Minister had two objectives:

to help those who got out of Vietnam and to regulate the flow. And

the world had to be made aware of Vietnamese policies. The British

Government had spoken in the strongest terms in Hanoi and had made

representations to the Soviet Union and East European countries. We

were making a major effort to mobilise world opinion. Mr Blaker said

there was a dilemma in our call for a conference: it might appear that

we were seeking to stop people leaving. This would be incompatible with

our policy on human rights, for example, with respect to the Soviet

Union. We wished simply to regulate the flow. He would visit the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Hartling, in Geneva

on 18 June. The Government also intended to involve the UN Secretary-

General. On support from the aid budget for the voluntary agencies,

Mr Blaker said that the aid review was still not complete.

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9 Rev Jackson suggested that the outflow might be diminished by an

increased Western aid programme to Vietnam: the development of the

New Economic Zones in the South was.necessary to produce food for the

North, and could make the conditions there more tolerable.

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10. Mr Blaker agreed that there was an anti-Chinese element in

Vietnamese policies, which, by forcing collectivisation in South

Vietnam, was exacerbating Vietnam's food production problems, and thus

increasing the outflow. Mrs Pearce did not believe that the whole

ethnic Chinese community would leave, but feared that those who could

not afford to do so might be sent to extermination camps. The West

was having its bluff called on human rights: if we could not absorb

the refugees, the Vietnamese could try to blame us for whatever steps

they took against those who were left in Vietnam. Britain must give a lead to the world community rather than drag her feet over accepting refugees rescued by British ships. The voluntary organisations could

do more: even without an appeal the Ockenden Venture had been offered

homes for 450 of the Sibonga refugees. They might also be able to give

greater help in Hong Kong.

11. Mr Cumber wondered how tolerant the average Briton was. Immediate

reactions were sympathetic, but in his experience they soon dissipated.

Sir Leslie Kirkley agreed that there might be a need to campaign to maintain public sympathy.

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