TNAG-1531-FCO40-2095-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1987 — Page 152

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Indo-Chinese refugees.

4.

Since 1979, the UK, in common with other nations has maintained its efforts to help solve the problem of Indo-Chinese refugees

through:

(a)

(b)

(c)

financial support for international and voluntary organisations (total aid in the period under review: £12.5 milllion); help with the resettlement of refugees (over 20,000, with a further 14,500 displaced Indo-Chinese absorbed into Hong Kong);

and

maintaining pressure in search of an overall solution to the Indo-China problem, caused by Vietnam's illegal occupation of Cambodia and oppressive domestic policies, and exacerbated by the desire of many Vietnamese and Lao to escape the harsh economic conditions in their countries.

It is recognised that (b) and (c) are sometimes in conflict in that helping with resettlement can relieve the pressure on Vietnam. However humanitarian and political considerations compelled action.

5. Thailand has borne the brunt of the flood of refugees, with over

600,000 arrivals since 1975. Since 1978, Thailand has also been the "front line state" in ASEAN's stand against Vietnamese expansionist policies in Indo-China. In 1984/85, the burden placed on Thailand

was increased by the arrival of some 230,000 displaced Cambodians

following the Vietnamese campaign against resistance bases near the

Thai/Cambodian border. These are not normally classified as

refugees and, hence, are not eligible for resettlement in third

countries. Thailand currently has around 125,000 refugees and some

240,000 displaced persons on its territory. The United Nations

Border Relief Organisation was set up in 1983 to assist Cambodians

on the border. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

the International Committee of the Red Cross and voluntary

organisations run assistance, resettlement and voluntary

repatriation programmes for Indo-Chinese refugees.

SEAAAU

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