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with our telegram number 476 refers). However, Mr Vieira de Mello, the EXCOM Secretary, told me on 20 August that the High Commissioner would prefer an in-depth discussion on Indo-Chinese refugees in South East Asia to be handled outside EXCOM. Mr Vieira de Mello added that this year the usual consultations between the US and Vietnam before EXCOM will not take place, although they may take place in November or later. UNHCR are asking Vietnam to send a high-level observer delegation to EXCOM which could conduct informal bilateral discussions with other governments.
13.
We shall also need to consider what line we should take on Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong (my letter to Hong Kong Department recording a conversation held on 19 August with UNHCR's Resettlement Section refers). Briefing on Resettlement Matters, including the orderly departure programme and the Twenty or More Plan, should also be provided.
14. On the question of refugee aid and development, the ODA will probably wish to lead (recent correspondence with Janette Wyeth refers). Briefing on UNHCR's relationship with UNDP and other UN development agencies should be included.
15. Under Item 7, review of UNHCR programmes financed by voluntary funds etc., the country chapters in the UNHCR programme reports are adopted. I have seen Mrs Wyeth's minute of 24 July seeking comments from FCO and ODA desk officers on particular country issues, and the briefing she is proposing to put together on this will be useful for background information and for possible discussions with UNHCR in the corridors or bilaterally. It should be borne in mind that delegations other than those from the countries concerned rarely take the floor, so we should not seek to discuss these programmes country by country, but confine ourselves to making, if necessary, specific points on specific programmes.
16.
On Item 8, Administrative and Financial Questions, the ODA will presumably wish to lead on the status of conributions and UNHCR's overall financial requirements for 1986 and 1987. If we wanted to offer comments on specific administrative or organisational points, including M. Hocke's efforts to re-organise the Office, this would be the place to make them.
Timing
17. It would be most useful if the briefing could arrive in Geneva by Friday 26 September, as the sub-committees start on Tuesday 30 September.
British Delegation
18.
We assume that, as in recent years, the Ambassador will lead the delegation. In the past, the delegation has been supported by representa- tives from the ODA (for financial matters) and the Home Office (for protection issues), and we hope this arrangement will continue. We are waiting to hear whether Hong Kong intend to include an official in the
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