TNAG-0899-FCO40-1109-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 198

I.

INTRODUCTION

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1.

Since 1975, there was been a steady movement of people out of Indo-China. Nearly a million have left their countries, half of whom were received by the neighbouring countries of South-East Asia.

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2. By the end of 1978, the problem had begun to reach alarming proportions. In the month of April 1979 alone, more than 25,000 "boat-people" had arrived in the various countries of the region and tens of thousands had crossed the border into Thailand. During his visit to the area in April and May 1979, the Secretary-General was able to obtain first-hand information concerning the situation and to discuss with the Heads of Governments directly involved measures that could be undertaken to alleviate a potentially explosive problem.

3. In his discussion with the Heads of Government of Malaysia, Viet Nam, China, Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, the Secretary-General expressed the great concern of the United Nations about developments in the region and, in particular, his concern over the humanitarian problem of refugees in South-East Asia. He also expressed understanding of the

problems faced by the countries of the region in trying to cope with the large increase in the number of refugees arriving as against the much lesser number who were departing for countries of resettlement. During his discussions with the authorities in Viet Nam, the Secretary-General was informed of the decision to permit orderly departures, which would take into account cases of family reunion and other humanitarian considerations, provided entry visas had been granted by countries of new residence.

4. On his return from the region, the Secretary-General decided to designate a senior official to follow developments closely from the region and to report to him on a regular basis on the humanitarian problem in all its aspects. On 11 June 1979, he appointed Ambassador I. Turkman of Turkey as his Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in South-East Asia to perform this function.

5. Considering the fact that the situation was rapidly assuming crisis proportions, and in support of the best efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, other agencies and Governments to alleviate suffering and to find lasting solutions, the Secretary-General decided to send an appeal to the heads of a number of interested and concerned Governments requesting their help and co-operation in urgently coping with this problem. In his communication of 24 May 1979, he emphasized the need for strict adherence to the internationally accepted humanitarian principle of asylum. Without a generous policy of at least temporary asylum, he pointed out, there can be no basis for humanitarian action. While appreciating the heavy burden of the countries of South-East Asia, he appealed to them to grant asylum while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees pursued his efforts to find places for their resettlement. He called on them to increase their financial contributions to

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