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temporary asylum for people whose lives are in danger and the obli. ation to save life at sea. To this end, my Government fully supports the High Commissioner in his endeavours to secure, not only a more thorough implement- ation of the binding provisions of the various internation- al refugee treaties, but also a closer observance of the spirit of the High Commissioner's Statute. We must also hope that more countries will ccede to the refugee conventions.
In our view, the protection of refugees is one of the most important aspects of the High Commissioner's work and of his day-to-day dealings with governments. We therefore welcome the papers submitted by him to the Protection Sub- Committee last week and the useful discussion which took place there. As you know, the main issue was the problem of refugees without country of asylum. The Sub-Committee's recommendations should be adopted by the Executive Committee so that standards may be improved in the vital area of refugee protection.
My Government has been in close touch with the High Commissioner, through his local representative, on how the United Kingdom's own procedures might be improved. This has resulted in the extension of refugee recognition in appropriate cases to Commonwealth citizens and in the drafting of a refugee identity document in accordance with Article 27 of the 1951 Convention. The relevant paragraphs of the published. Immigration Rules are being reviewed in consultation with the London represent tive of the High Commissioner and with interested members of the United Kingdom voluntary refugee org misations. The revision will ensure that refugee status is not seen to be a status of last resort. We believe, however, that the absence of a rigid formality in the United Kingdom's refugee recognition procedures provides a flexibility which generally acts in favour of the
pplicant.
/Conclusion