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Item 2: Adoption of the Agenda (A/AC.96/551)
We have no comments on the provisional agenda. The delegation may support its adoption. Should any delegation propose the addition to the agenda of any contentious item, reference should be made to London for instructions. Such a problem arose two year's ago when Algeria proposed the addition of an item con- cerning refugees in the Western Sahara: the additional item was unnecessary, and politically provoking for some delegations, as it would have been discussed in any case under another item already on the agenda.
Item 3: Statement by the High Commissioner and General Debate
The High Commissioner's statement will be followed by speeches by other delegates. (The UK's statement should be prepared by the UK delegation and the text included in the Report of the 29th Session.) The debate may touch on items already included in the body and annexes of this brief which the delegation may draw on as necessary.
Item 4: International protection
The United Kingdom is party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and to the 1967 Protocol. It has also acceded to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. It is generally accepted that protection of refugees, under the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol,. is probably the most immediate issue in the day to day context of States' implementation of their international obligations with regard to refugees. To this end, the High Commissioner two years ago established a sub- Committee of the Whole of the Executive Committee to study the subject in more detail. This year's meeting of the sub-Committee will take place on 6 October. Dr Paul Weis (a world authority
on asylum) and Mr Roy McDowall (the Home Office official respon- sible for refugee matters), will represent the United Kingdom.
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Last year's Executive Committee promulgated, at the suggestion of the Protection sib-Committee, a number of points (HCR/EC/XXVIII/ CKP 5) compliance with which by signatory States would ensure that, more than previously, applicants for refugee status received consistent treatment and protection from refoulement. The United Kingdom associated itself in the sub-Committee with these.
Upon examination, however, it was shown that, for several reasons (listed below) the United Kingdom could not be considered as being among the 20 or so States which presently fulfilled all the points and, so, could not be regarded as having an "acceptable procedure" for the determination of refugee status. The past 12 months have seen considerable efforts by HMG (Home Office is the responsible Department) to come into line with the requirements of the Executive Committee.
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CONFIDENTIAL