TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 184

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Mr Segar SEAD

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HKK 243/ Reference a Miss Welker (HKD)

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7 Pt. 243/1.

BRIEFS FOR UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, 3-19 OCTOBER

INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

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Mr Macdowall has agreed to draft a brief on General Protection and Asylum Questions (the note on International Protection A/AC 96/623) and Determination of Refugee Status and Abusive Applications (EC/SCP/29).

2. I attach my draft brief on some of the other international issues which may come up under this agenda item. If you and the other recipients of this minute have any comments, I should be grateful to receive these by 20 September.

3. Military attacks on refugee camps. The Schnyder Report on Military Attacks on Refugee Camps (EC/SCP/26) was enclosed with Mr Kyle's (Geneva) letter of 7 April, copied to you, Mr Brown CAfD and Mr Doble EAD at the time. I have referred in the brief to our interest in the threats against refugee camps on the Thailand/Cambodia border and in Botswana earlier this year. The High Commissioner, in his note 96/623, urges all governments to find political solutions for the protection of refugees, admittedly easier said than done.

4. Rescues at Sea. HMG's position on the admission of Vietnamese refugees rescued at sea was outlined in my letter UNS 243/26 of 5 July to Mr Adams (Geneva) about the RASRO Scheme, copied to you, HKD and the Home Office at the time.

5. Anti-Piracy Programme. Mrs Birch is considering the assessment of the Anti-Piracy Programme (your minute of 26 August refers) but I have assumed that we would wish to be non-committal about further UK assistance to the Programme.

6. Voluntary Repatriation.

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There may be some discussion about voluntary repatriation under the agenda item on UNHCR's Assistance Activities and I believe a brief will therefore be required. Opportunities for the permanent resettlement of large numbers of Asian refugees in third countries are drying

There are obstacles to local integration in Hong Kong and ASEAN countries because of the pull factor and in Djibouti where refugees form a significant part of the population and are better off in their camps than the local inhabitants outside. The UNHCR and others, including Ambassador Douglas of the United States, the British Refugee Council as well as this Department, see voluntary repatriation in certain circumstances as the

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