TNAG-0895-FCO40-1105-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 78

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RECORD OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MINISTER OF STATE

AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND THE CHINESE VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT THE UK MISSION GENEVA ON 19 JULY AT 5.15 PM

1483)

Micruzamen 8317

Present: Mr Peter Blaker MP

HE The Governor of Hong Kong Dr D C Wilson

Mr Zhiang Wen Jin Mr An Chih-yuan

Mr C A Munro

1.

After an initial exchange of courtesies and discussion of the prospects for the meeting, Mr Zhiang said he knew how much Hong Kong had suffered from the uncontrolled exodus of refugees from Vietnam. China was ready to agree in principle that the Governor should address the conference. Mr Blaker said it was only right that the Governor should be allowed to speak. Hong Kong was currently playing host to over 65,000 refugees and the Governor had all the facts about the exodus at his disposal. Mr Blaker asked Vice Minister Zhiang what would be the Chinese

Line.

China

But it was

2. Mr Zhiang said that the British Government would be aware of China's general position on Indo-China. As far as the refugee question was concerned, the forthcoming conference would be dealing with the humanitarian aspects of the problem. agreed that those who were suffering needed help. not purely a humanitarian question. Over a million more people were threatened, and many had died already. This tragedy had political origins and was endangering the security and stability of the countries of South East Asia. These aspects should command the attention of the world. But Dr Waldheim's meeting would put the emphasis on assistance to the refugees, and China was ready to play its part. However, one could not help properly without tackling the origins of the problem. Mr Zhiang said that he would be explaining what China had done already. The situation of those refugees who had reached China

was poor.

3. Mr Zhiang then referred to the overall objectives of current Chinese economic policy. The Chinese economy had many imbalances.

/The system

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