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had agreed to 50,000 places for Indo-Chinese, compared with 64,000 this year.
Recent changes in immigration procedures had made it easier to grant refugee status. The ODP with an estimated requirement of 12,000 places would have priority. The balance, would be used to take refugees from throughout the region, with preference being given to Thailand and countries such as Indonesia with whom the US had agreements on refugee processing. The US would also take account of the preferences of other resettlement countries such as Australia who wished to take refugees from Malaysia and Indonesia. US funding for resettlement could be the lowest for four years.
4. Mr Williamson emphasised that 25% of refugees in Hong Kong had been there for four years and 50% of new arrivals were not qualified for normal resettlement. Mr Purcell said that the US would do what they could for Hong Kong but all resettlement countries would have to work towards burden sharing. Hong Kong would have to coordinate with these countries so as not to be left with any groups of refugees who had no hope of a solution. He warned that Hong Kong should not rely as heavily on the US as in the past. Congress could not accept northern Vietnamese for resettlement.
In answer to Mr Beck's question, Mr Williamson said the Vietnamese Delegation to the Executive Committee had told him they could agree in principle to voluntary repatriation but there were still "state security" considerations.
UNBRO
5. Mr Dewey was grateful for the UK's recent new contribution to the UN Border Relief Organisation's programme but he was concerned about funding in 1984. He hoped the UK, the European Community and ASEAN would support the United States against Soviet moves to abolish the post of (UNBRO) Commissioner. Mr Dewey said that the European Community's delay in making contributions had been disastrous for the programme. It was disappointing that a European Community offer of cash for transport costs, which had been added to an earlier offer of food aid, had been withdrawn as soon as a US contribution had been made.
SUDAN
6. In response to HE's assurance of continued UK interest in and support for the refugee programmes in Sudan Mr Purcell confirmed that the US Delegation had discussed coordination of voluntary agency programmes with the Sudanese Delegation to ExCom. Mr Purcell had visited Sudan and thought voluntary agencies were doing a good job. He hoped the programmes would be brought within the Sudanese framework of assistance to refugees. There should be better coordination in the field and UNHCR should act as a catalyst, not only for relief aid but for the development agencies. He said that Sudan was more hospitable and better organised to handle refugees
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