TNAG-1277-FCO40-1627-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 87

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Let me take one more example of the comprehensive efforts under way, on

another continent. The response to the refugee situation is South-East Asia

has been unprecedented. It is almost hard to believe that more than a million

Indo-Chinese have been resettled outside the region, in less than a decade.

Still, there remain today almost 200,000 refugees in the area for whom

solutions are increasingly difficult to find. We have therefore attempted to

study the situation in all its aspects in order to suggest an integrated

overall approach. We know that third country resettlement cannot provide a

total solution to the problem. Resettlement efforts today, after an

outstanding achievement, barely exceed the increase in numbers. Particularly,

the number of boat people in camps has remained virtually unchanged for two

years now. We know that self-sufficiency in the region is not a realistic

option at this juncture. We know that voluntary return home has yielded

comparatively small results so far.

So, while there are no obvious solutions in sight for sizeable numbers,

while 3,000 new arrivals reach first asylum countries each month, in addition

to natural increase, what can UNHCR do? First create and maintain awareness

of the situation, which is no longer in the headlines. I have contacted

several governments emphasizing that, in spite of the response from the

international community, the continuation of joint efforts is still badly

needed. It seems that some measures are indeed under. consideration for

maintaining and possibly increasing the present resettlement rate, for

speeding up intake of those accepted, and for relaxing admission criteria.

Experience shows that, for a large number of Khmer and Lao refugees in

Thailand, we must look for other options than resettlement. For Lao refugees,

departures during the first six months of this year have decreased by 50% as

compared to the same period in 1982. Voluntary repatriation especially for

Lowland Lao - while modest, is encouraging, and must increasingly be explored

as a solution; all governments concerned should work toward this objective,

including the provision of assistance in returnees' villages of origin. For

Kampucheans, concrete practical steps must be taken by the parties concerned

and, when the repatriation programme is undertaken for those who freely wish

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