TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 248

4.

(4)

CONFIDENTIAL

15,

There is a marked contrast between committed countries close

to the scene of action, eg China and Singapore, who believe a

Conference must expose and condemn Vietnamese action, and others

who share UNHCR's view that a special Conference must be essentially

non-political.

5.

The Americans favour 'delinking' the political and humanitarian

aspects, with prior action in the Security Council to focus world

attention, followed by a humanitarian conference. We believe the

Security Council might be useful after a Conference: to have it

beforehand might stultify the efforts towards practical measures

to get the world to accept more refugees, particularly if the

Security Council was acrimonious or long drawn out. The Swedes

tend to agree with this last view.

CONFIDENTIAL