TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 361

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3.

High Commissioner's Visit

The High Commissioner had little to offer us or the major resettlement countries. He was pressed by us and them to give his views on economic migrants and involuntary repatriation. He refused to consider the possibility that the UNHCR's definition of refugee might have to be amended. He said that even though their reasons for leaving Vietnam might be primarily economic, they still had some claim to refugee status. Despite this he understood the inconsistency of places of asylum accepting all who arrive as refugees while the resettlement countries classified only some as refugees. But he said that this was a matter for the asylum countries to discuss with the resettlement countries. He did not see it as a matter on which the UNHCR Could take the lead.

He followed this line when discussing involuntary repatriation. He did not think that the UNHCR should, or indeed could, take the lead on involuntary repatriation. He said that if countries wished to discuss this with the Government of Vietnam and reach an accommodation, then the UNHCR would be happy to follow what- ever line had been agreed.

We pressed him for an indication of continued priority support for Hong Kong next year. We pointed out that although Hong Kong had briefly lost its leading position in the region (to Malaysia), we once again have the greatest number of Vietnamese refugees awaiting resettlement. We reminded him that the factors which persuaded the UNHCR and resettlement countries to help Hong Kong last year continued to apply this year - we have the greatest number; we have the longest stayers; we have the greatest number of long-stayers; and we have the largest number of difficult-to-resettle North Vietnamese.

The High Commissioner assured us that he would press Hong Kong's case in Geneva. We hope that this is true, but his attitude did not give us grounds for hope.

I hope that these (rather long) comments will be of some help to you and Delia. I agree that we should attempt to correct some of Cooper's inaccuracies as soon as possible.

I look forward to seeing you both in the near future.

yours,

Ken

(K.J. Woodhouse),

for Secretary for Security.

CC:

Miss D.J. Walker, Geneva.

CONFIDENTIAL