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we in the FCO would make the most determined efforts to
secure matching commitments from other resettlement countries.
The informal remarks recorded in our memorandum, and those to
which I have just referred, give reason for hope that such commitments would be forthcoming. We have urged resettlement
countries on many occasions both at Ministerial and official
levels to take more refugees fron Hong Kong. But in the absence
of a commitment from ourselves to take the lead, it has not been
possible to pin them down to matching an additional UK quota.
7.
Meanwhile we shall continue to seek progress in the search
for durable solutions to the Indo-China refugee problem. During
the meeting in Geneva in October to which I have referred,
officials discussed this separately with counterparts from major
resettlement countries, some of the ASEAN countries and with
UNHCR. We also participated at a meeting during that month
convened by UNHCR to discuss with the Vietnamese problems
concerning the Orderly Departure Programme. I myself recently 'had talks here in London with the head of Thailand's National
Security Council, Squadron Leader Prasong, who is responsible
for refugee matters. We continue also to support the efforts
of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to find
alternatives to resettlement in western industrialized countries,
including voluntary repatriation to Vietnam but the prospects for this latter solution, regrettably are not good.
8.
There are no easy solutions to resolve the Vietnamese
refugee problem in a humane and satisfactory manner given the
present unyielding policies and practices of the Vietnamese
Government. Britain has played a major and honourable role in meeting this human crisis. We are resolved to continue
to do so within the constraints we face.
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