§ 5. Mr. Goodladasked the Lord Privy Seal when he expects to meet the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Peter Blaker)My right hon. and noble Friend had arranged to meet him in London earlier this week, but Mr. Hartling was obliged to cancel his visit. Instead, I met Mr. Hartling's deputy, Mr. de Haan.
§ Mr. GoodladWhen my hon. Friend meets the High Commissioner, will he discuss with him the urgency of achieving permanent settlement of the Indo-Chinese refugees, which is the subject of the agreement instituted by his right hon. Friend? What steps have been taken by his Department to achieve the implementation of that agreement? What has happened, and, when the commitment is entered into, what will have been achieved?
§ Mr. BlakerI believe that my hon. Friend is referring to the Geneva conference in July. More than 500 of the 10,000 refugees from Hong Kong intended for resettlement in this country have arrived in the United Kingdom. We expect to receive a further 1,000 by the end of the year. Those numbers are in addition to the refugees taken from the British vessel "Sibonga" and others taken under the arrangements announced by the previous Government.
§ Mr. McNallyWill the Minister tell the High Commissioner that the British Government, as a contribution to alleviating suffering in Cambodia, will follow their long-standing rules on recognition? We should stop recognising Pol Pot and start co-operating with the Administration that is demonstrably in control of that country.
§ Mr. BlakerThat is another matter, which does not arise from the main question. We discussed it last week, and the responsibilities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees do not extend to famine relief inside Cambodia.