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FM UKM IS GENEVA
TO DESKBY 13090OZ FCO
TELNO 326
OF 101747Z JUNE
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
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MDHIAN 2957
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MY TELNO 321: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES UNHCR RESPONSE.
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF WRITTEN UNHCR RESPONSE TO MY DEMARCHE TO
HOCKE ON 9 JUNE.
QUOTE
'1.
SINCE 1975 THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS, CONSISTANT WITH THE TRADITIONAL PRACTICE OBSERVED IN CASES OF MASS INFLUX, AGREED THAT ALL INDO CHINESE DISPLACED PERSONS, INCLUDING VIETNAMESE, ARE PRIMA FACIE (UNDERLINED) OF CONCERN TO UNHCR AND SHOULD RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION ON THAT BASIS. THIS AGREEMENT WAS ENDORSED, IN GENERAL TERMS, BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 3455 (XXX) IN DECEMBER 1975.
2. STRUCTURES WHICH WERE CREATED, NOTABLY IN 1979 TO SUPPORT THAT INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS HAVE SINCE WORKED WITH A HIGH MEASURE OF SUCCESS. THE INTERACTION OF TEMPORARY ASYLUM, RESETTLEMENT AND . ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME HAS PRODUCED REMARKABLE RESULTS IN DEALING WITH A HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM OF VAST DIMENSION AND GREAT CONCERN TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
3. DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, UNHCR HAS BEEN IN INTENSIVE CONTACT AND CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENTS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE INDO CHINESE REFUGEE SITUATION WITH A VIEW TO ADDRESSING THE EMERGING CONCERNS OVER THE CONTINUATION OF THE INFLUX, THE BONA FIDES OF THE ASYLUM-SEEKERS CLAIM AND THE PURPORTED INADEQUANCY OF RESETTLEMENT AS A RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM. THE UNHCR'S POINT OF DEPARTURE HAS BEEN THE SAFEGUARDING OF INTERESTS OF THE REFUGEES AND THE EXISTING STRUCTURES SERVING THOSE INTERESTS.
4. AS HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ARE AWARE, MOST RECENTLY IN OTTAWA BROAD AGREEMENT ON A LINE OF ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THE VIETNAMESE ASYLUM SEEKERS WAS REACHED AMONG THE MAJOR RESETTLEMENT/DONORS GOVERNMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONSULTATIVE GROUP (ICG). THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN, HOWEVER, REQUIRE EXTENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH COUNTRIES OF TEMPORARY ASYLUM AND EVEN
MORE WITH THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM.
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