TNAG-1538-FCO40-2102-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-resettlement-in-third-countri-1986 — Page 81

ZSYNZ

(START CM)33

7 OCTOBER 1986

G767

CONFIDENTIAL

FOR DAVID JEAFFRESON, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY

FROM : KEN WOODHOUSE IN GENEVA

COPIED TO : DELIA WALKER, UKMIS GENEVA

BEN TANG, HKG OFFICE, LONDON (PLEASE PASS TO LEEKS AT FCO)

UNHCR EXCOM : GENERAL DEBATE : NETHERLANDS

THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NETHERLANDS AGREED WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONER THAT CHANGE IN THE REFUGEE DEFINITION WAS INEVITABLE. BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT CHANGE SHOULD NOT (NOT) BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF PROTECTING REFUGEES.

2. HE SAID THAT THE NETHERLANDS HAD DECIDED TO DOUBLE THE QUOTA FOR REFUGEES TO BE RESETTLED NEXT YEAR. HE AGREED THAT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION REMAINED THE MOST DESIRABLE SOLUTION AND SUGGESTED THAT NOT ENOUGH HAD BEEN DONE TO EXPLORE THIS OPTION.

3.

COPY OF SPEECH FOLLOWS BY BAG.

COMMENT

4.

I (NATURALLY) TACKLED

MICHEL DEN ROND WHOM I SPOKE TO LAST / YEAR AND WHO LED THE NETHERLANDS MISSION TO HONG KONG WHICH TOOK 70 REFUGEES. HE SAID THAT HE HAD ASKED THE UNHCR RESETTLEMENT SECTION IF IT WOULD AGAIN ENDORSE HONG KONG.

HE SAID

THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE HONG KONG IN ANY MISSION WHICH VISITED SOUTH EAST ASIA.

5. I HAVE A MEETING WITH ISSAKA, COOPER AND HANSON OF THE UNHCR RESETTLEMENT SECTION LATER IN THE WEEK AND WILL PRESS THEM ON THIS. BUT WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP IN THE CAPITAL AND GENEVA.

ENDS

JJJ

(END CM)

++++

28404

HKGOVT G

CH

28880 HKGV

TTTT

CONFIDENTIAL