TNAG-1537-FCO40-2101-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 151

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CURSELVES IN CURRENT DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE AMONG MEMBERS OF

THE SO-CALLED QUOTE HONOLULU GROUP UNQUOTE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT

THIS COMPRISES THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES (THE US, AUSTRALIA

AND CANADA), JAPAN AND THE UNHCR, AND MLETS PERIODICALLY IN

GENEVA FOR INFORMAL DISCUSSION ON REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT

MATTERS. IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT THAT TEL INOLT

GROUP IS ALREADY ADDRESSING THE SAME CONCERNS AS CURSELVES. (AN

AUSTRALIAN PAPER DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE GROUP (IN

JUNE) DREW ATT: VTION TO THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM: TC

THE FACT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE QUOTE REFUGEES UNQUOTE

WERE SEEKING BETTER ECONOMIC PROSPECTS RATHER THAN FLEEING FROM

POLITICAL PERS) JUTION: AND TO THE PROBLEMS POSED THEFIFT FOR

RESETTLEMENT C. INTRIES AND COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASY! IN }

3.

BY CTHER

WE BEL VE THAT OUR ASSOCIATION WILL BE WINCOME.

MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. WE ANTICIPATE THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO

INITIATE DISCU: 3IONS DURING SEPTEMBER, THE OCTOBE! MET ONG C2 THE

UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAY THEN OFFER OPPORTUN. "IES POR MORE INTENSIVE DISCUSSION IN THE MARGINS, AND POSSIBLY EVEN FOR

SUBSTANTIVE DELATE IN EXCOM ITSELF.

4.

OUR FILST EFFORTS WITHIN THE GROUP WILL BE VERY

EXPLORATORY, DIRECTED AT ESTABLISHING WHAT COMMON GROUND MIGHT EXIST. WE SHAL ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER IN DUE COURSE HOW AND WHEN COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM MIGHT BE BROUGHT INTO THESE CONSULTATIONS. OUR INITIAL VIEW IS THAT SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF

OTHER MEMBERS THEY MIGHT BE BROUGHT IN AROUND EARLY 1987.

5.

ON THIS BASIS WE ARE INSTRUCTING UKMIS GEN VA TO APPROACH UNHCR AND MISS ONS OF HONOLULU GROUP MEMBERS ON THE FOLLOWING LINES, AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD MAKE PARALLEL

APPROACHES TO OUR HOST GOVERNMENTS:

(4)

IN VIEW OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG M `NG HMG REMAIN

VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUING OUTFLC: CF QUOTE BOAT

PEOPLE UNQUOTE FROM VIETNAM. DESPITE CONTINUING OVERSEAS

RESETTLEMENT OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG CAMPS, NEW ARRIVALS CONTINUJE TO SWELL NUMBERS IN THE CAMPS. HONG KONG'S ARRIVAL RATE THIS YEAR IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE RATE

OF LAST YEAR (1591 JANUARY-JULY 1986 COMPARED WITH 806

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