TNAG-1529-FCO40-2093-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 150

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AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY,

BANGKOK.

Statement by Mr Vincent Giuca

Counsellor (Immigration Section)

Australian Embassy

STATEMENT ON AUSTRALIA'S INDO-CHINESE PROGRAM IN THAILAND

Australia's ongoing refugee resettlement program is part of our overall humanitarian assistance to displaced in Thailand. persons who have been given temporary refuge This is in line with Australia's refugee policy of seeking to the needs to respond in an integrated and flexible way created by refugee situations around the world, and the those premise that resettlement should only be reserved for for whom other durable solutions are not possible.

and

its

and

Australia's intake of refugees is in keeping with the

solidarity

burden sharing principle of international

humanitarian objectives

in refugee type situations. On this basis Australia's refugee program is determined annually by the Government taking into account the leveis of refugee populations in first asylum countries, the view of the United Nations High Commissioner

other of for Refugees, the projected intake

resettlement countries, the prevailing economic situation in Australia, the background of the refugees themselves and their to integrate, the amount of assistance voluntary agencies and humanitarian concern to the Australian community.

is

situations

ability

available

from

particular

of

resettlement

in

of places meet

AS the number of

seeking refugees Australia

far greater than the number available, not all persons who match the UN definition Australia's own criteria for the determination of refugee status and satisfy the prevailing program selection criteria.

Since July 1982, determinations of refugee status have been

that the

ensure

made

is to individual on an

basis; this decision to

is refugees accept

made Broadly speaking,

responsibly and with compassion. priorities within the

determined

by

several

themselves, such as

Australian refugee factors relating already having family

to

are

program

the refugees

in

Australia,

having close ties with Australia because of education or

former employees of employment, or being

mission or business overseas.

an Australian

The Indochinese

program is for nationals

Kong

Macau.

or stateless seek ing Kampuchea

the Malaysia, Singapore,

and

Australia

former residents of Vietnam, Laos and first

Thailand,

in refuge

Philippines, Indonesia, Hong

will continue its program of resettlement of Indochinese refugees for those most in need of resettlement. However, with the changing nature of outflow and as other solutions

the

need continued are pursued

for

resettlement

should

gradually reduce.

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