TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 86

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Indo-Chinese Refugees

[Mr. Blaker.]

28 JUNE 1979

Nothing less than an international effort on the widest scale will be suffi- cient to deal with the problem. It was to arouse the conscience of the civilised world and to involve as many countries as possible in the search for ways to assist the refugees that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made her pro- posal to the United Nations Secretary- General that he should convene a special conference to deal with it under United Nations auspices.

Dr. Waldheim's initial reaction was favourable. We have approached over 50 countries represented in London to ask for their support. There has been an encouraging response from most of them. Hon. Members will be aware also that the Pope, the President of France and the Foreign Ministers of the EEC have recently supported the call for a conference. We are hopeful that Dr. Waldheim will soon decide to convene the conference. It may begin in July.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): Will my hon. Friend say why our Gov- ernment, the United Nations and the European Economic Community are not prepared to take the toughest economic and political sanctions against Vietnam and its Soviet backer to prevent the continuance of this barbaric trade in human beings?

Mr. Blaker: That is an important question, and I hope that my hon. Friend will forgive me if I do not give him a full answer now, but we are considering our position in relation to Vietnam. The United Nations High Commissioner, to whose efforts the Prime Minister has paid wholly merited tribute, has been making sourdings on Dr. Waldheim's behalf. When I visited him on 18 June I was struck by the devotion with which he and his staff are tackling the problem. I understand that he has had many replies favourable to the proposed hold- ing of a conference.

The High Commissioner has also sought further pledges of resettlement places, and funds, before the conference meets, to ensure that it succeeds in making a worthwhile contribution to im- proving the plight of the victims. Of the 500,000 refugees who have left Indo- China since 1975, about 200,000 have so far been resettled in 31 countries. The

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High Commissioner is taking care of 160,000 refugees in Thailand and is send- ing 10,000 per month out of the area for permanent settlement.

We have always seen the task as to find practical solutions to the appalling prob- lem posed by the exodus of refugees, but this aspect of the matter cannot be dealt with in isolation. The world community must ask itself why the exodus has hap- pened. For the answer to this we must look to the callous means that Vietnam has employed in reorganising its social system--incidentally acquiring a profit- able export trade in human misery.

We have made clear to the Vietnam Government our abhorrence of their be- haviour and have urged many other countries to do likewise. This may have some effect in the longer term and the Vietnamese have recently shown some awareness of the need to be in touch with the Governments, in South-East Asia, of countries which have received the largest numbers of refugees. They have also agreed to work with the United Nations High Commissioner over the orderly emigration of people to be reunited with their families.

This, regrettably, will involve only a small fraction, perhaps 20,000 to 30,000 people in all, of the total number of refugees and will amount to only a few weeks' worth of boat people now leaving. So, this agreement does not represent a very serious contribution to a solution, though so far as it goes it is a step for- ward.

We are not under any illusion that the Vietnamese authorities will easily change their attitude, but we must continue to try to get them to do so. How this can best be accomplished, whether by contact during a conference devoted mainly to securing help for the dispossessed, or in a separate forum, remains to be decided. The matter must mainly be Dr. Wald- heim's responsibility since the conference will enjoy sponsorship by the United Nations. I leave my hon. Friend in no doubt, however, that we will not allow the responsibility of the Vietnamese authorities to go without comment, as we seek with others to deal with the appal- ling human misery that they have caused.

Question put and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at Eighteen minutes past Eleven o'clock.

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