TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 305

ii)

That States which, because of their geographical situation or otherwise, are faced with a large-scale influx, should as necessary and at the request of the State concerned receive immediate assistance from other States in accordance with the principle of equitable burden-sharing;

(c) Took note of the extensive practice of granting temporary refuge in situations involving a large-scale influx of refugees;

(d) Stressed the fundamental importance of the provisions of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol, and of the 1967 United Nations Declaration on Territorial Asylum and the need for constant advice by UNHCR on the practical application of these provisions by countries exposed to a large-scale influx of refugees;

(e) Stressed the exceptional character of temporary refuge and the essential need for persons to whom temporary refuge has been granted to enjoy basic humanitarian standards of treatment;

(f) Recognized the need to define the nature, function and implications of the grant of temporary refuge;

(g) Considered that the practice of temporary refuge had not been sufficiently examined and should be further studied, particularly in regard to (i) procedures for the admission of refugees, (ii) their status pending a durable solution, (iii) the implications of temporary refuge for international solidarity, including burden sharing;

(1) Decided to request the High Commissioner to convene as soon as possible a representative group of experts to examine temporary refuge in all its aspects within the framework of the problems raised by large-scale influx and to provide the group with all possible assistance.

(5) Protection of asylum-seekers at sea

(a) Noted with grave concern the continuing incidence of criminal attacks on refugees and asylum-seckers in different areas of the world, including military attacks on refugee camps and on asylum-seekers at sea;

(b) Expressed particular concern regarding criminal attacks on asylum-seekers at sca in the South China Sea involving extreme violence and indescribable acts of physical and moral degradation, including rape, abduction and murder;

(c) Addressed an urgent call to all interested Governments to take appropriate action to prevent such criminal attacks whether occurring on the high seas or in their territorial waters;

(a) Stressed the desirability for the following measures to be taken by Governments with a view to preventing the recurrence of such criminal attacks:

(i)

Increased governmental action in the region to prevent attacks on boats carrying asylum-seekers, including increased sea and air patrols owr areas where such attecks occur;

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