(4V) THE US SHOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE HELP TO THE THAI GOVERNMENT FOR CARE OF LAO REFUGEES AND CONTINUE EFFORTS TO OBTAIN LAO COOPERATION FOR LEGAL DEPARTURES FROM LAOS
(VYON KHMER REFUGEES, THE US SHOULD EXPEDITE ADMISSIONS PROCESSING FOR THOSE WHO MEET US CRITERIA
(VI) THE US SHOULD SUPPORT THE UNHCR'S EFFORTS AND ENCOURAGE TRADITIONAL AND OTHER DONORS TO INCREASE THE IR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR IT. THE US SHOULD PROVIDE ITS QUOTE FAIR SHARE UNQUOTE OF SUCH SUPPORT.
3. THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO MR SHULTZ ON 18 APRIL. HE TOLD THE PANEL THEN THAT IN PRINCIPLE HE ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAS APPOINTING A STATE DEPARTMENT WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. STATE TELL ME THAT THIS WILL TAKE SOME MONTHS AND THAT THERE WILL BE CLOSE CONSULTATIONS WITH US AND WITH FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES INCLUDING HONG KONG. COMMENT
4. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT DESPITE OUR LOBBYING HERE, THE REPORT DOES NOT (AT A QUICK READING) SEEM TO MENTION HONG KONG'S INCREASED EFFORTS INCLUDING THE RASRO TRANSIT CAMP, NOR OUR OWN INITIATIVE LAST YEAR. BUT THERE IS AT LEAST A CLEAR RECOGNITION THAT THE US SHOULD WIDEN THEIR CRITERIA TO TAKE MORE REFUGEES AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT.
5. SEAD PLEASE PASS A COPY BY BAG TO HANCI.
SIGNED P F RICKETTS
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