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France did not attend. UK received last-minute invitation; too late
to arrange for a suitable representative to attend. Moreover, our role as representative of place of first asylum (Hong Kong) rather than resettlement state made it inappropriate for us to do so. Reports of outcome of meeting mixed: Hong Kong Government heard that
little was achieved, but Ambassador Douglas of US State Department
described it as "roaring success". He said participants had concluded that major resettlement states should maintain current high rates of resettlement over next 18-24 months. Douglas plans to visit London in early October before UNHCR Executive Committee meeting in Geneva; likely to seek meeting with the Prime Minister. He aims to hold follow-up to Honolulu meeting in Tokyo in December or January; hopes UK will attend.
Voluntary Repatriation
10. UNHCR normally regard voluntary repatriation as preferable to resettlement. But attitude of Vietnamese government still makes
this difficult for boat people, and UNHCR have been reluctant to encourage it. Idea discussed at Honolulu conference, though more in context of Lao and Khmer refugees in Thailand. Little evidence so far that refugees in Hong Kong wish to return to Vietnam, particularly while resettlement in third countries remains possible. In the past HKG have found UNHCR's procedures for handling the small number of voluntary repatriation cases slow. But we hope UNHCR will in future be readier to encourage such cases. We support principle of voluntary repatriation, but believe it will apply to only a small proportion of boat people in Hong Kong.
Future Prospects
11.
Hong Kong Government have heard that US Government have decided
Hong
X to relax slightly guidelines for determining refugee status.
Kong believe that extra 1000 open centre cases may now qualify for resettlement in US. Continuing decline in numbers seeking asylum by sea also encouraging. However HMA Hanoi estimates there may still be two million potential emigrants in Vietnam. Despite increasing departures under ODP, departures by boat unlikely to cease
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