TNAG-1523-FCO40-2087-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1986 — Page 104

Mr Trevan UND

RESTRICTED

Reference..

HKK 243/

акк

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

20 JAN1986

25

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

UNHCR RESETTLEMENT MEETING, 21 JANUARY 1986

We spoke. Here are a few suggestions for inclusion in your brief under the Indo-Chinese Refugees heading.

1.

Resettlement and other durable solutions

2.

Our delegation may wish to make the point that the UK, while continuing to help as much as possible in the resettlement of Indo-Chinese refugees, still considers, together with UNHCR, that resettlement is the least satisfactory long-term solution. We are therefore keen to continue exploring the possibility of other durable solutions. Reference may be made here to the recent UK pledge of £100,000 to UNHCR's screening programme for Laotian refugees in Thailand.

RASRO

3.

1

(UK's initial pledge of 150 places for year beginning May '85). This scheme appears to be functioning well, and has caused us no particular problems. The UK are therefore prepared to pledge a similar number of places for the year beginning 1 May 1986. We would welcome early advice from UNHCR on the number of unused places to be carried over.

UNHCR's Briefing Note, Part A, paras 6-8

4. Under HMG's response to the SCORRI report, the admission criteria for refugees were relaxed not only in respect of refugees in Hong Kong camps, but also for those in camps elsewhere in the region: this will affect an estimated 60. The UK will continue to consider carefully on a case-by-case basis requests for resettlement from refugees in camps in South East Asian countries.

17 January 1986

CC:

Mr Leeks, AKD

CODE 18-77

PA SCARY

S T Nash

South East Asian Department

RESTRICTED