TNAG-0893-FCO40-1103-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 162

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STRESS ON HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS IN DR WALDHEIM'S ANNOUNCEMENT

5. The conference can hardly avoid giving some consideration to

the root cause of the exodus, which lies in the behaviour of the

Vietnamese Government.

VIETNAMESE POLICY

6.

We have made clear to the Vietnamese Government our concern

at their callous behaviour. We have also urged other countries to

bring their influence to bear in the interest of getting the

Vietnamese to abandon the policies which have obliged so many of

their population to leave.

EVENTUAL RECOURSE TO SECURITY COUNCIL

A recourse to the Security Council at some stage cannot be

ruled out. But I recall that on the last two occasions, in

January and March, when the Council debated events in Indo-China,

the Soviet Union cast its veto.

HOW MANY REFUGEES HAVE WE AGREED TO ACCEPT AND HOW MANY HAVE ALREADY REACHED THIS COUNTRY?

8.

Between Spring 1975 and 27 June this year, we agreed to

accept 4,466 people from Indo-China. 3,168 are now in this

country, including the majority of the refugees saved by the

MV Sibonga and all those from the MV Roach Bank.

WILL BRITAIN TAKE MORE REFUGEES?

9.

The special statement on Indo-Chinese refugees issued at

the Summit Meeting in Tokyo on 28 June makes clear that the

commitment to admit more people takes into account the existing

social and economic circumstances in each country.

WILL WE PROVIDE MORE MONEY FOR THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES?

10. For 1979 we have already pledged £3.5 million for his general

programme, which includes work on behalf of South East Asian

refugees; this represents over 8% of his budget.

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