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"screened out". However, we could argue that, since they have been screened and found not to be genuine refugees they are not of concern to UNHCR. The present High Commissioner for Refugees. M. Hocké has tried to extend his mandate to include any asylum-seekers but we and other Western countries have consistently resisted such moves. For example, the Home Office reacted strongly when Hocké complained about the removal of six Tamil failed asylum-seekers to Sri Lanka in February. There will be pressure in UNHCR to resist the new policy, but we should be able to counter it by arguing that the new policy provides better humanitarian care for genuine refugees and that those screened out do not fall within UNHCR's mandate.
5. Our relations with UNHCR will need careful cultivation over the next few months, particularly during the run-up to the Executive Committee meeting in Geneva in early October when any change is likely to be discussed. I would suggest that Mr Hewitt in UKMis Geneva should be instructed to prepare the ground informally with his UNHCR contacts, basing his approach on recent press reports that Hong Kong was planning to change its policy of first asylum. We should also consider giving UNHCR formal notice before any new policy is announced.
6. The likely American reaction is still unclear. While the Australians and Canadians can be expected to welcome screening, the Americans have been non-committal. It might therefore be useful for a tentative approach to be made to Ambassador Moore, the State Department's refugee specialist, to seek their views. They are very conscious of the pressure on Hong Kong, particularly that many new arrivals are not eligible for resettlement in the US. Careful presentation of the screening element of the new package could therefore have advantages.
7. SEAD might also wish to comment on the implications for ICG and ASEAN countries. We in UND are ready to provide further assistance as required.
P K Williams
United Nations Department
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