TNAG-0800-FCO40-1004-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-Nationality-1978 — Page 50

mo from LORD ELTON

12th March, 1978

Re:

THAILAND

-

Bangkok

(2) Mr. Phiraphongse, Director of Department of International Organisations

Foreign Office

On the Refugee Problem:

The

The Thai Government is considering schemes for resettlement of refugees within Thailand. They do not wish to make any early announcement as this would only precipitate a further influx. political difficulties of such schemes would be considerable. They might be eased by either a rural development programme or a rural health programme. They had not, it appeared, discussed these with other countries, though they would seem to be very suitable for support by means of national or international programmes of development aid.

He was very cagey about a UN right of access to individuals refused recognition as refugees. A formal arrangement would be a derrogation of sovereignity. An ad hoc one would be preferable. I commended the idea.

A principal handicap in dealing with the refugee problem was the inability of the Thai Government to quantify it. They were anxious to establish what he called a "pooling arrangement". This would mean that all host countries would commit themselves to a stated intake in a given period. The global figure would represent the pool of refugees from whom the individual countries would draw their immigrant quota without, he hoped, picking them over to find the best candidates as is at present the case. Until this global figure is available, they cannot realistically embark on plans for resettlement.

Lord Elton