TNAG-0793-FCO40-997-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 153

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first bode well for the outcome. At least this year the Nigerian

was persuaded not to politicise the Committee. In his closing

remarks the Chairman said that if political considerations were to

take precedence in the Committee UNHCR would soon become an

impotent organisation.

political matters and we should remain determined to shield the

High Commissioner from politicking. Given that next year it is

the term of the Asians or Latin Americans to take the chair and

that there will probably be another 9 members, mainly from

dveloping countries, it is a matter for conjecture as to how long

the Executive Committee can retain its businesslike manner based'

on consensus and remain a basically non-political body.

Certainly the developing countries have a far greater interest in assistance (witness the number of appeals by third world delegates) than protection, although the latter has always been the

High Commissioner's first responsibility. It would be a pity if

15. UNHCR were to turn into just another aid institution. /A reshuffle

during this year meant that there were some new faces on the podium: the High Commissioner himself, Dale de Haan (US) the new Deputy

High Commissioner and Ciss (Senegal) Director of Assistance. They were well supported by the old firm of Volfing (External Affairs) Jaeger (Protection), Homann Herimberg (Special Assignments) and Moussalli (Administration). During the meeting the UK Mission's

good relations with this helpful team enabled us to cut through

some expensive red tape which was holding up the transport to the

UK of the 346 boat refugees from Taiwan.

There were other fora in which to take up

refugee

16. For the UK, our procedures for determining status and the

status of British Concessionary Passports for Zimbabweans are two

important issues which we shall have to tackle before next years

Executive Committee. Fortunately our standing and influence with the office of the UNHCR and in refugee circles generally remain

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/high