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Mr Jeaffreson suggested that the only real way to stop the w was to shut the door. If those arriving in Hong Kong really were coming because of a fear of persecution, the overall number would be finite. But i, as Hong Kong believed, they were primarily economic migrants, there was no limit to those who might decide to come in the future. Mr. Long said that what was missing was a dialogue between Vietnam and the rest of the world. Did UNHCR have such a dialogue? The High Commissioner replied that his office did have close and regular contacts with the Vietnamese authorities, but the dialogue was humanitarian, not
political. HE reminded the High Commissioner that Mr Jeaffreson had asked what Hong Kong could do to help. The High Commissioner said that Hong Kong should concert with the resettlement countries represented there and with his own staff in Hong Kong. The problem was not susceptible of a short term solution.
5. Mr Casella said that there was no one way to solve Hong Kong's problems. A series of elements would have to be combined.
Mr Anvar said that the UK held the key. Every government which UNHCR had asked to take refugees from Hong Kong replied by asking what the UK was doing. If the UK took even a few, there would be a chain reaction, which could result in the settlement of perhaps half of Hong Kong's current case-load.
6. Mr Jeaffreson thanked the High Commissioner for seeing him on the busy opening day of ECOSOC. The High Commissioner, in turn, thanked Mr Jeaffreson for his call and his review of the present position. He was sure that Hong Kong would never relax the high standards which they had set in the treatment of refugees.
cc: R D Clift Esq, HKD, FCO
N C R Williams Esq, UND, FCO CJ M Segar Esq, SEAD, FCO R McDowall Esq, Home Office P J Williamson Esq, Hong Kong UKMIS New York
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