TNAG-1529-FCO40-2093-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 78

劬

as it is, these bitte

have been contained

DSR 11C

relieving the burden placed on Hong Kong. This involves the

provision of support to help Indo-Chinese refugees settle in

the UK and Hong Kong;

screening and

b) support programmes for voluntary repatriation where con-

ditions allow (currently the only large-scale programme is

(in Tharland

run by UNHCR for Laotian refugees); and

c) help countries of first asylum to maintain their humani-

tarian response to the burden placed upon them. This involves

the economical provision of temporary housing and vital

services to refugees and displaced persons until durable

solutions are found. This is achieved through support for

UNBRO, ICRC and the UK voluntary agencies.

6.

These ultimate and interim objectives throw up a range

of subsidiary objectives:

a) Thailand and other countries of first asylum cannot be

expected to carry their burden without help from outside. Povertinking maxime political and ecocomic, consequens could blow brown the withda, wat

This would risk serious instabilities in the region f of British and Western haloup, furthering

the advantage of Vietnam's communist, expansionist aims;

together with the prospeat of the countries of first asylum

refentcntext).

resorting to inhumane solutions (eg involuntary repatriation).

The

The UK policy represents effective support in this respect ;

b) Thailand and her allies in ASEAN represent an important

area for UK security, trade and investment interests.

goodwill of Thailand and ASEAN would be at risk if the UK

were not to give support on the principal political issue

facing the region;

c) the opportunity to make an explicit and enduring gesture

(Allagad of condemnation of Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia pr

human rights record;

/d)