CODE 18 77
Mr Byrne, CCD
CHOGM: REFUGEES
1.
CONFIDENTIAL
Reference
My other
Pa 243/1.
157
I refer to your minute of 3 November. You confirmed that no refugee matters are on the 1983 agenda of CHOGM. We see no need for lobbying on this subject. We have no particular advice on the language to be used in drafting a communique. This could follow the 1981 format and the delegation could also draw on the following line to take.
(i)
Indo-Chinese Refugees
Please see SEAD's brief on Cambodia,
paragraph 5 (Points to Make) and paragraph 10 (Background). In addition, Hong Kong has the highest number of boat people, nearly 14,000, of whom 25% have been waiting for resettlement for more than two years. The UK accepts Vietnamese family reunion cases and those picked up by UK registered shipping. Increasing numbers of Vietnamese are being allowed to leave under the Orderly Departure Programme. We would continue to support any measures which tackle the root causes of refugee problems (called for in the 1981 communique). We also hope that durable solutions can be found, such as voluntary repatriation under UNHCR auspices or regional self-sufficiency programmes which reduce the refugees' dependence on large-scale care and maintenance aid.
The
(ii) African Refugees We support UNHCR's efforts to find durable solutions, such as voluntary repatriation and local integration, as well as their practical proposals to coordinate refugee relief aid and development assistance in conjunction with other international agencies. We strongly support the involvement of voluntary non-governmental organisations in refugee development projects. UK hopes to attend the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa (ICARA II) in July 1984. We commend the real efforts now being made to identify practical proposals of assistance to refugees which we can support and which the Conference can concentrate upon, rather than merely calling for new pledges of
aid.
9 November 1983
CC
Mr Roberts, UND Mr Segar, SEAD
Mr Hoafe, HKD
Mr David, CSAD, ODA
DJ Peate United Nations Dept K 143
233 8631
HICK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
10 NOV 1983
REGISTRY
CONFIDENTIAL
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
a