TNAG-1543-FCO40-2107-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 121

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(START CM)26

7 OCTOBER 1986

6769

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 : UK

HMG'S REPRESENTATIVE SPOKE FOURTH IN THE DEBATE AND IN A FOUR PAGE SPEECH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE TO HONG KONG :

''HONG KONG HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE AWAITING RESETTLEMENT AND THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF LONG-STAYERS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT BRITAIN HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED 20,000. MY GOVERNMENT IS VERY GRATEFUL TO UNHCR AND THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH RESPONDED TO OUR CALL AT THE LAST MEETING OF EXCOM FOR ADDITIONAL RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KONG. BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS, AND THIS YEAR NEW ARRIVALS ARE SEEKING REFUGE IN HONG KONG AT TWICE THE RATE OF LAST YEAR.

I APPEAL ONCE MORE TO RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO DO EVEN MORE THAN THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE IN VIEW OF HONG KONG'S SPECIAL PROBLEMS.''

2. SEVERAL DELEGATES ASKED FOR COPIES OF HIS SPEECH AFTERWARDS.

ENDS

لذل

(END CM)

CONFIDENTIAL

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