TNAG-1276-FCO40-1626-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 6

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Mr Peate, UND

Mr Hoare, HKD

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We have sent fel. to

Reference

HK on points below, when we have their views, Ihr Hoove = I will provide material requested) 4 by SEAD repara

FA 243/19

M, Wasche.

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Separate copies cra 20/12

Mr Montgomery-Pott, Home Office (Lunar House) KK243/2

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

REFUGEES FROM INDO-CHINA: MEETING WITH MR ROBERT FUNSET(STATE DEPARTMENT) 2 NOVEMBER

DESK OFFICEK

INDEX

PA

1.

At our meeting this morning we discussed the form the talks with Funseth should take the points we should make and how to arrange briefing.

2.

a)

We concluded:

REGISTRY

Hion Taken

we should ask the US side to give us their own latest assessment of the SE Asian refugee problem. This could cover not only the continuing problems raised by boat-people, but refugees in Thailand, UNHCR relief programmes and special programmes (eg the anti- piracy programme), UNBRO, repatriation (both to Laos and Cambodia), the ODP, etc, and we should be ready to comment particularly on prospects for continuing refugee flows and the problems posed for Hong Kong.

b) we should then ask Funseth to outline the conclusions of the Honolulu conference. We have learned much of this from briefing in Ottawa, Canberra and Tokyo, but it would be useful to hear what the US approach will now be, particularly to pin them down on what they mean by a mix of policies' which resettlement states ought to pursue to keep the problem under control, and how this compares with the recent UNHCR proposals.

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c) we should then discuss how the US see the way forward procedurally the consultative meeting of resettlement states in the margin of UNHCR's EXCOM on 14 October suggested that permanent representatives in Geneva might meet informally later in the year once all states' comments in the UNHCR proposals had come in. But there has also been talk of a follow up to Honolulu. It is not clear whether these would be pursued consecutively or separately and at what point those other than resettlement states (eg ASEAN) might become involved.

d) finally we could ask Funseth about recent changes in US admissions policy and the likelihood of them taking any substantial numbers of the ''UK'no-shows'' they have now decided to consider.

3. On the line we might take, we thought: -

a)

we should avoid making too much of our own difficulties over resettlement (because the US has problems too - and a far higher number of refugees) and concentrate on looking at possible alternative ways forward.

b)

but we should make clear that we have the same general objections as the US has to opening quotas for refugee resettlement, and we should give them no grounds for expecting any additional quotas, eg as a quid pro quo for others to take more from Hong Kong.

c) if the US are disposed to invite us to a Honolulu follow-up meeting we would attend, but might ask Funseth what level of

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