TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 247

C

CONFIDENTIAL

14.

9.

ATTITUDES TOWARDS A CONFERENCE

1. The United States, France and Australia, which have already

offered a large number of resettlement places, support the idea and

have made their views known. During a meeting in Paris of Foreign

Ministers of the Nine, who expressed support in a declaration on

18 June, President Giscard d'Estaing said that his Government

would put a request for a conference to Dr Waldheim. He added,

that "the international community has the right to know the

reasons for the exodus and the intentions of Governments involved

concerning the size of the population (under transfer) and the

rate of departure".

2.

They

Countries and territories where the burden of accommodating

refugees initially is heaviest have expressed strong support.

China, include/Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Government of Hong

Kong. States such as Japan and Bangladesh, bordering on the

region immediately affected have also welcomed the proposal.

3. General support has been given by Austria, Colombia, Portugal,

Spain and Sweden. In other countries, such as the Philippines,

officials and Ministers have reacted favourably.

Only a few

Governments have shown disinclination to support a conference;

Syria and Saudi Arabia, for instance, have shown little response.

The initial coolness of some countries, such as India, seems to be

fading with realisation of the gravity of the situation. Singapore

considers pressure for places of resettlement, without withdrawal of

the reason for the exodus, would only play into Vietnamese hands

Some other countries favour emphasis on humanitarian rather than

political questions.

Others consider that the case of refugees

outside South East Asia, for example in Africa, should be considered.