CONFIDENTIAL
Definition of Refugee
3.
The process of determining refugee status is the
responsibility of each state. The UNHCR has guidelines for
this purpose and their key phrase in defining refugee status
is 'well-founded fear of being persecuted'. There is no
universally accepted definition of 'persecution' and the UNHCR
guidelines acknowledge that interpretations of what amounts to
persecution are bound to vary. For example, holding political
opinions different from those of the government is not in itself
a ground for claiming refugee status and an applicant must show
he has a fear of persecution for holding such opinions. The
guidelines also distinguish economic migrants from refugees,
although if economic measures destroy the economic existence of
a particular section of the population, victims may become
refugees on leaving that country.
British Aid to UNHCR
4.
The United Kingdom has always had close links with UNHCR
and we are a major contributor to the Regular Budget (1982-83:
£5.4 million, including £3 million food aid) and also to specific
appeals, such as for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, food aid for
Sudan and the orderly departure programme for Vietnamese refugees
in Hong Kong. The Secretary of State will receive the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Poul Hartling, during his visit to Britain on 14 April.
Hong Kong and Vietnamese Refugees
5.
Neither the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of
Refugees nor the 1967 UN Refugee Protocol has been extended to
cover Hong Kong. The International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights has, however, been extended to Hong Kong.
6.
Since 1975, over 100,000 Vietnamese refugees have arrived
in Hong Kong. After initial processing by the Hong Kong Government
they are provided with accommodation in centres run by voluntary
agencies while awaiting resettlement through the UNHCR. Some
90,000 have been resettled, mainly in the US, but in 1982
resettlement opportunities declined seriously as world attention
/turned elsewhere.
CONFIDENTIAL