TNAG-1275-FCO40-1625-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 79

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While problems of disembarkation were thus to some extent minimized, the basic requirement of a resettle- ment guarantee by the flag states put an end us burden on all such states and particularly on small states which have a large merchant fleet in the region. It may be said that while the interests of the coastal states in this respect is legitimate and evident, the flag states have an equally legitimate interest in benefitting from the principle of international burden sharing. It should be borne in mind that even if the connection between the refugee and the country of first asylum (i.e. the coastal state) is remote and coinciden- tal, the refugee's connection with the flag state is usually even more remote and coincidental.

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Alternative approaches to the problem are therefore called for. The following proposal based upon the principle of burden sharing would seem to meet the legitimate interests of the flag states, the coastal states and other states which participate in the resettlement of the boat people, while at the same time facilitating the rescue, resettlement and inte- gration of refugees rescued in distress at sea.

The basic premises of the proposal are the following: .

a) The flag states would continue to provide the

required resettlement guarantee in order to facilitate quick disembarkation of persons rescued by their flagships in the port of call country.

b) Considering that the operation of the pool automa-

tically will ensure rapid resettlement of the refu- gees, coastal states may consider waiving or easing the strict time limits for the implementation of durable solutions. It is understood that, as long as the pool operates, UNHCR assumes responsibility for the timely removal of the refugees from the territory of coastal states and any delays in this respect will have no repercussions in relation to subsequent disembarkation of refugees.

c) For subsequent resettlement the traditional flag

states in the area and other, states which may wish to contribute to solving this problem will provide offe: for a resettlement pool to be administered by UNHCR. The pool may be known as Rescue At Sea Resettlement Offers (RASRO) to which states would contribute a specific number of resettlement places on the basis of objec- tive criteria, e.g. (for traditional flag states) a proportion of the average of their actual intake of all cases rescued by their ships in the last 3 years. The contribution will be decided after consul- tation with the UNHCR. The participating states' intake for resettlement in a given year would be

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