TNAG-0894-FCO40-1104-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 179

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DECK BY 14177

FM FCQ 14121PZ JUL 79

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 542 OF 14 JULY

FOR GUVERNOR

TELNO 541. AND YOUR TELECON WITH CORTAZZI: NEW UK QUOTA OF REFUGEES

DRAFT STATEMENT BY LORD CARRINGTON

1. HOBLE LORDS WILL BE AWARE OF THE DEEP CONCERN WITH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS VIEWED THE RAPID DETERIORATION OF THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA OVER RECENT WEEKS. THE SECRETARY- GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, DR WALDHEIM HAS NOW CONVENED A SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN GENEVA ON 20 AND 21 JULY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THE GOVERNMENT WELCOMED. THIS MOVE, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED 3Y MY RT HON FRIEND, THE PRIME MINISTER. 2. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT IT IS THE CALLOUS AND INHUMAN POLICIES OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WHICH ARE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT CHANGE THOSE POLICIES. MEANWHILE, THE BURDEN WHICH THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES IS IMPOSING ON OTHERS IN THE REGION CAN BE RELIEVED ONLY BY A MAJOR AND GENUINELY INTERNATIONAL EFFORT.

3. THE GOVERNMENT HAVE GIVEN VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE EXTENT OF THE HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS, AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE APALLING BURDEN WHICH IS BEING PLACED ON THE PESOURCES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG. THE UNITED KINGDOM IS PREPARED TO ACCEPT A FURTHER 10,00 REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA FOR SETTLEMENT HERE. BECAUSE OF OUR DIRECT CONCERN FOR THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG, THESE EXTRA REFUGEES WILL BE TAKEN, OVER A PERIOD TO BE AGREED WITH THE GOVERNOR, FROM THE 64,000 WHO ARE PRESENTLY AWAITING RESETTLEMENT IN HONG KONG. MY RT HON FRIEND THE HOME SECRETARY IS GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHO HAVE PLAYED SUCH A COMMENDABLE ROLE IN HELPING WITH THE RESETTLEMENT OF THE REFUGEES WHO HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. I WOULD LIKE

,, TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF RECORDING AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT'S

· GRATITUDE TO THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR THE SPLENDID WORK WHICH THEY ARE DOING IN THIS FIELD.

4. THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO MAKE A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION OF POUNDS STERLING 5 MILLION TO THE FUNDS OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES SPECIFICALLY EAPMARKED FOR USE IN HIS SOUTH-EAST ASIAN OPERATIONS OVER THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.

5. I SHALL MYSELF ATTEND THE OPENING SESSION OF THE SECRETARY- GENERAL'S MEETING IN GENEVA ON 20 JULY. I CAN ASSURE HOBLE LORDS THAT WE SHALL PLAY A FULL AND CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN GENEVA.

CARRINGTON

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