TNAG-1543-FCO40-2107-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 58

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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(f) the human and tolerant application

of the criteria for determining

refugee status;

(g) UNHCR's mandate;

(h) the root causes of refugee problems;

(i) durable solutions;

(j)

(k)

assistance;

cooperation between UNHCR and UNDP;

(1) UNHCR success stories;

(m) fund raising appeals;

(n)

the re-organisation of UNHCR;

(0)

(p)

cooperation with other UN bodies;

cooperation with NGOs; and

(q) the Nansen Medal.

Of these the more contentious points were as follows:

(i)

Industrial countries' assistance to refugees in countries of first asylum in the developing world was essential but not enough. The industrialised world must also share the burden of accepting some of those among them who seek asylum outside their regions at least long enough to gain time pending the attainment of natural solutions to their plight. Many delegations misread this as the High Commissioner promoting resettlement from the solution of last resort to a more even pegging with voluntary repatriation and local

integration. I do not read it this way.

(ii) States should not take steps which could

affect mandate refugees and economic migrants indiscriminately. Refugees and asylum seekers who are the concern of UNHCR should not be the victims of measures taken by their Governments against illegal immigration or threats to their domestic security however justifiable these may be in themselves. This, in my reading, is totally wrong, Article 31 of the Convention allows Governments to take measures in order

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