that where mercy ships were involved those picked up would not be put into the pool. Family reunification cases would also have to be kept separate. On the chart drawn up by UNHCR, they suggested that the quotas should not be based merely on resettlement numbers but on the overall figure of boat people rescued.
3. Canada pointed out that it had, at present, 80,000 Indo-Chinese in the resettlement pipeline. In their estimation, a further 150,000 would have the right to entry. They were in favour of a pooling system, in principle, but wished to see flag states take more responsibility for the situation and show a willingness to shoulder the major part of the burden. Finance was not a major problem; rather it was a question of finding sufficient places. They agreed that family reunification cases should be kept separate from the pool. Greece defended their position. They appeared to be the "Chosen Land" of the Iranian and Iraqi Christians. They were bordered on three sides by Communist countries and had no option but to keep those refugees who escaped from there. Moussalli suggested that flag states were responsible for providing a formula to solve the problem. UNHCR's aim was simply to ensure that more refugees would be picked up.
4. I was able to put forward a number of the points you asked me to make. Feldmann said that the extra financial burden would be minimal. They were aiming to have the Memorandum agreed by all the main parties_once sufficient discussion had taken place. He did not think that the scheme would reduce the number of places available for those refugees at present awaiting resettlement in coastal states such as Hong Kong. He agreed with the Australian suggestion that the scheme should be put into operation on a trial basis. If the pool failed to operate properly they would fall- back on the present system. Feldmann failed to elaborate on the aspect of timely removal, nor did he respond to my point that, from the Hong Kong angle, we would have serious reservations about-- the proposal-in-paragraph 8(c), namely that the scheduled port of call principle should be relaxed.. I asked also whether UNHCR were confident that the details of such a scheme would get through to the people who mattered, namely the ship companies and their captains. Feldmann said that from past experience their system of disseminating information worked well.
5.
Although Moussalli stated at the end of the meeting that he was fairly confident something could be worked out, there were enough reservations made by the likely participating states to suggest that he will have a difficult task. In order to make our position fully clear we should ensure that our response to UNHCR's questions provides as much detail as possible.
cc: C M J Segar Esq, SEAD, FCO
Your ever
R J F Hoare Esq, Hong Kong Department, FCO
R W Kyles
Ray
R-MacDowall Esq, Immigration & Nationality Dept. Home Office