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GV EXTERIOR: Elysee Palace in Paris with guards on steps.
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2.
MV: UNHCR Commissioner Poul Hartling arrives with officials and walks up palace steps
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CU: Palace guards come to attention as UN officials enter
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4.
SV: Hartling leaves through palace door as he leaves Palace after audience and is accosted by newsmen.
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5.
CU: Hartling speaks to reporters in English
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6.
MV: Hartling down steps and into car.
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HARTLING:"How, about the recent influx of the great problems now, we discussed how it could be remedied and we discussed also the meeting which is coming in Geneva, the twentieth and twenty-first of July. I am very happy to feel that the President had really a great understanding for our problems, so we hope for a good result in meeting in Geneva."



REPORTER: "What do you think of the decision taken by the EEC countries as far as further public help to the Vietnamese is concerned? They have decide to stop, as far as the (indistinct) is concerned, to boycott to Vietnam, which is vital to this country."



HARTLING:"That's a political decision and I'm not taking part in that."



REPORTER:"But what do you think about that?"



HARTLING: "I am not thinking about that. I have only humanitarian purposes to try to help the refugees, help them...coming out Vietnam, coming out of all countries. We have an office in Honoi, we have an office in Bangkok, (indistinct) refugees anywhere and the political decisions between the countries, well, that's not my business."




Initials RH/



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A United Nations official has announced that Hong Kong is to withhold cash allowances for food from Vietnamese refugees -- to induce them to take jobs and help support themselves. With the current labour shortage in Hong Kong, the U.N. says that self-help is available, but they will continue to assist special cases such as old people. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, Mr. Poul Hartling has meanwhile held talks with French President Giscard D'Estaing, on the growing refugee problem. With the upcoming U.N. conference on refugees in Geneva, scheduled for the twentieth and twenty-first of this month, Mr. Hartling is to hold preliminary talks with several countries concerned by the influx of refugees from Indochina.

SYNOPSIS: M. Hartling met President Giscard at the Elysee Palace on Wednesday (4 July). He has already made trips to the United States and China to discuss the refugee problem.

The French have said they will take seven thousand four hundred refugees -- the highest offer made by a Western nation so far.

With the continuing influx of 'Boat People' from Vietnam, the South China Morning Post newspaper has voiced its support for Britain's call for an economic boycott of Vietnam.