TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 112

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CONFIDENTIALNO

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DRAFT SPEECH FOR GOVERNOR AT GENEVA

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189.7

Since last year when the first Vietnamese

M.

refugees landed on the shores of South East Asian countries,

there has been a growing atmosphere of frustration and

despair throughout the region. Many of us realised even

in those early days the potential enormity of the problem

which faced us, but it seemed that the rest of the world

was too preoccupied with its own problems to focus on this

one which was happening so many thousands of miles away.

Our cries for help and attention were largely unheeded and

it is not surprising that tension rapidly built up.

But, following Mrs. Thatcher's initiative in

calling for an International Conference and Dr. Waldheim's

enthusiastic support for it, all that has changed.

The very

fact that we have 60 odd countries represented in Geneva

today is a major step forward, since it demonstrates quite

dramatically the change in world opinion which now undoubtedly

does recognise that this is a problem which cannot be solved

by South East Asian countries alone and which the international

community must grapple with if it is not to end in human tragedy

and disaster. I am therefore personally most grateful for the

enthusiasm of Dr. Waldheim and Mr. Hartling for the idea of

this Conference and for all the hard work which they have both

devoted to the preparatory work for it. I am also honoured to

have been called upon to speak since Hong Kong has been and is

continuing to be severely troubled by the Vietnamese refugee

problem and I greatly appreciate the chance to offer some

thoughts on the practical ways in which a solution may be

found.