TNAG-1182-FCO40-1484-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 30

Mr Stitt

Reference

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- SEP 1982

VISIT OF PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE MR MALCOLM RIFKIND, MP

1.

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Mr Rifkind called on Mr Hartling, the High 'Commissioner for Refugees at 10 am on Wednesday 21 July. HE, Mr MacGregor and I accompanied the Minister. Mr Koulischer the High Commissioner's assistant was also present.

this.

2. Mr Rifkind asked Mr Hartling why his post was termed High Commissioner. Mr Hartling replied that he had his own view on

It was set up many years ago and used the British phrase of High Commissioner meaning Ambassador. He saw himself as the Ambassador for each refugee who had no country or person to turn to. He went on to say that although his office's first respon- sibility was the physical protection of refugees, it was also often necessary to protect them from starvation. This brought his office into the field of assistance and relief. The office had had many success stories in dealing with refugee problems. Zimbabwe was one of the best programmes. He then explained the importance of durable solutions. There were three: repatriation; permanent residence in the country of asylum; and resettlement in a third country. Referring briefly to Hong Kong, Mr Hartling said that some of the 10,000 refugees there might well wish to stay.

3.

Mr Rifkind then asked whether the considerable number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan would wish to go elsewhere. Mr Hartling thought not and hoped that eventually circumstances would allow them to go back to Afghanistan. This was UNHCR's largest programme and difficult to administer and finance. But there were possibilities that some refugees could be employed on developmental projects in Pakistan financed by the IMF. Turning to his own organisation Mr Hartling said that he had a total staff of some 1,600 people. Two-thirds were overseas in about 90 different posts. There were 450 in the headquarters in Geneva. On financing, he said that although some 16 countries pay 95% of the budget, about 100 countries actually contribute. Those not doing so are the new and small countries and the Eastern bloc. The Russians and their associates consider UNHCR to be a Western organisation which was set up to deal with "traitors who have left their own country". They consider it right for the West to look after their own. China, however, are showing more interest. They have taken in 260,000 refugees and have made several financial contributions, one of $1 million. Mr Hartling said that when handing over this sum the previous Chinese Ambassador asked if any of the money would go to the Vietnam programme.

Mr Hartling said that a small percentage of it clearly would. The Chinese Ambassador said that they objected strongly to this programme and that no money should go to it; but they would make the $1 million contribution all the same.

Comment

4.

A useful visit. Mr Hartling is at his best with small grups of westerners and clearly appreciated Mr Rifkind's call and questions.

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CODE 18-77

23 July 1982

B D Adams

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Mr Newton SEAD