NATIONS UNIES
HAUT COMMISSARIAT POUR LES RÉFUGIÉS
VX MS
Bot.
MR Spell Ci
UNITED NATIONS
HIGH COMMISSIONER
22 OCT 1979 FOR REFUGEES
UNLI8/9
ра
HK.
Del 23.
Télégrammes : HICOMREF
Télex: 27492 UNHCR CH
Téléphone : 31.02.61
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 GENÈVE 10
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and has the honour to refer to the Permanent Mission's note of 3 August 1979 concerning the management of resettlement programmes for refugees and displaced persons now in camps in South-East Asia.
The Office of the High Commissioner wishes to inform the British Government that it is particularly sensitive to the special problems posed by the recent and continuing influx of refugees into Hong Kong, and is making every effort to ensure that an equitable distribution of resettle- ment places is made for Hong Kong and, indeed, all countries of first asylum in the region.
After taking account of cases of family reunion and refugees who have special links with a country of resettlement, one of the more important factors which has governed the distribution of quotas is the length of time refugees have been remaining in various countries of first asylum. The British Government will no doubt be aware that the higher quotas which the Governments of countries of admission have assigned to other countries, such as Thailand and Malaysia, reflect the fact that these countries have received a higher cumulative number of refugees, and are countries where the highest number of those who have waited the longest are accommodated. Whereas in Hong Kong there is a minimal number of refugees who have been waiting for resettlement for six months or more,
the cor responding number in some of the other countries of first asylum reaches several thousand.
Other categories such as handicapped persons or unaccompanied minors should also take precedence, although this has not always been the case. Once these categories have been earmarked for early resettlement, however, the remaining places would normally go to those who have waited the longest in the region. This is a policy line reflected in the selection criteria or objectives formulated by countries of admission, taking into account the best interests of the totality of the refugees awaiting resettlement.
Bearing the above factors in mind, the Office of the High Commissioner is at the same time acutely aware of the particularly generous asylum policy adopted by the Hong Kong authorities despite the enormous strains this imposes on local social services and resources. The Office of the High Commissioner wishes to assure the British Government that it will continue to press countries of permanent resettlement for a special effort on behalf of the Government of Hong Kong in order to bring about a marked reduction
.../2
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.