TNAG-0975-FCO40-1194-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-in-other--1980 — Page 57

Committee drew back from the abyss by a decision to ask other fora to examine the "root causes" of refugee situations. How long it can resist total politicisation is anyone's guess but much will depend upon the Chairman at each session and the behind-the-scenes management of the Secretariat. The UK has always been a member and our delegation has usually been led by a back-bench MP. For the first time last year a Minister (Mr Timothy Raison, Minister of State at the Home Office) led the delegation.

The High Commissioner usually invites the Permanent Representatives of Executive Committee missions to informal half- day meetings in about January and June. He also convenes ad hoc meetings, e.g. on Indo-Chinese refugees in December 1978.