TNAG-1417-FCO40-1900-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 114

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(m) Membership of the Intergovernmental Committee for Migration

(ICM) or lack of membership

ANSWER: We withdrew from full membership of ICM in 1969, because we

considered that the work of the organisation had departed from the activities for which it was originally set up. In particular it had become increasingly involved in technical cooperation and

recruitment, which we have regarded as the province of other UN and

international organisations. However we took up observer status in

1976, and still retain this. We also contribute indirectly to ICM

through our contributions to UNHCR for refugee relief, which

includes reimbursement for the refugee transfer and resettlement

services provided by ICM. We have reconsidered our position recently, and continue to feel that our original reasons

withdrawing from full membership remain valid.

for

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ICM ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG AND VIETNAM

ICM has played a major part in the processing and movement of

Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong, and from Vietnam under the Orderly Departure Programme. In recognition of this work, the Hong

Kong Government provides ICM with rent-free accommodation and exempts its expatriate staff from local taxation.

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