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UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION REPORT ON THE 29TH SESSION OF THE UNHCR
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The 30th Session of the Executive Committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was held in Geneva from 8 to 16 October 1979, The United Kingdom delegation was led by Mr Timothy Raison MP, Minister of State, Home Office. The Sub-Committee of the Whole on International Protection, at which Mr R McDowall of the Home Office and Dr P Weis represented the UK, met on 4, 5 and 8 October. The official report of the Session is contained in document A/AC.96/572 and of the Sub- Committee in A/AC.96/571.
Election of Officers and Agenda (at Annex A)
2. Ambassador Hessel (France) was elected Chairman, Ambassador Birido (Sudan) Vice Chairman and Mr Jayanama (Thailand) Rapporteur. They were a good and balanced team. Although a firm and wise Chairman, Ambassador Hessel was swimming against the tide in his efforts to keep out political issues at a time when the magnitude of refugee situations worldwide, a proposed budget of $234m tripling that proposed last year, and an increase in the Committee from 32 to 41 members inevitably raised much greater political interest from all sides - asylum, resettlement and donor countries.
High Commissioner's Statement
3. In his statement to the Executive Committee Mr Hartling reviewed the refugee situation over the past decade and the changes that they had brought about in his Office. Significantly he dealt first with Africa and the contribution that the Arusha Conference in May had made to the shaping of UNHCR's work in that continent before turning to South East Asia, and the contribution that the July Conference had made to the problem_of_Indo-Chinese refugees. He referred to UNHCR's scheme for Orderly Departure from Vietnam, and a rate of resettlement from the region which had reached 25,000 in September. Besides South East Asia, Mr Hartling drew attention to new refugee situations in Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, Nicargua, and Uganda, and worsening situations in Mozambique, Sudan and the Horn of Africa but was encouraged by the successful repatriation movements to Zaire and Burma. On protection, the High Commissioner emphasised the need for the strict observance of the principles of asylum and non-refoulement. He was concerned that the 1980 budget should be met by generous unearmarked pledges. as soon as possible, and that the apportionment of UNHCR administrative costs between the UN regular budget and voluntary funds be looked into.
The High Commissioner concluded that his Office should be receptive to adapting its structure to changing circumstances and that he would welcome the advice of governments.
General Debate and Assistance (Items 3 and 6)
A. The text of Mr Raison's statement in the General Debate is at Annex B. He voiced concern at the growth in the budget and refugee situations, praised the, work of UNHCR and of the voluntary agencies, re-affirmed the stand that HMG had taken at the July Conference on Indo-Chinese refugees, dwelt on the problems of Hong Kong, stressed
/the importance
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