CODE 18-77
NOTE FOR THE FILE
UN 243/518/1
Reference....
ANNEX A
UNHCR: BILATERAL RESETTLEMENT SECTION MEETING: 4 OCTOBER 1988
Mr Wrench, Home Office, and I attended a meeting on 4 October with UNHCR's Resettlement Section.
1.
RASRO/DISERO: SE Asia
2.
UNHCR referred to delays in processing UK Rasro cases in the British posts in the region. They commented that, the previous week, Thailand had refused to disembark 63 cases because earlier cases had not been processed within 30 days. Two shipping companies had told UNHCR that they would, in future, refuse to rescue boat people. UNHCR urged us to expedite the processing.
Resettlement of EX-Fang Cheng Cases
3. UNHCR wanted to submit the China and Hong Kong ex-Fang Cheng cases together, but agreed to start with the screening of the China cases for the UK. Details of these ten cases (twenty-three persons) would follow.
Resettlement from Hong Kong in the UK
4. UNHCR asked if the UK quota of 468 could be extended. Mr Wrench explained that this was a two-year process ending in Spring 1989; the gaps in the quota of 468 would be filled in; what, if anything would follow, was under consideration; the British Refugee Council had suggested a further quota (at 60 a month).
Resettlement of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong
5.
UNHCR confirmed that Hong Kong was the first priority for resettlement. Norway had agreed to take 150 (out of a 300 quota) and Finland would allocate a large proportion of their quota to Hong Kong cases.
Miscellaneous
6. UNHCR asked if we could consider the cases of a small group of Iranians in Iraq and if we could also consider joining the Twenty or More Scheme (for handicapped cases).
Walker.
DJ Walker (Miss)
17 October 1988
cc: Miss J Slater, HKD, FCO
P Millett Esq, UND, FCO
M Hanson Esq, Hong Kong Government Secretariat File UN 243/10