TNAG-1544-FCO40-2108-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-Intergovernmental-Consultativ-1987 — Page 33

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solutions.

He emphasised the need for Europe to be seen to be

taking its fair share of the refugee burden.

4.

Mr Williams replied that December sounded a

reasonable date to

Hocké

aim at, but that thorough preparation was needed, and that this would be better done without being tied to a rigid stage by stage

timetable. Mrs Rogerson suggested that meetings might be more

productive if the High Commissioner were to circulate background papers and/or "non-papers" suggesting lines of thought. said he was giving consideration to this, possibly in association with selected members of the Working Group. Mr Williams reiterated

the need for thorough preparation. M. Hocké expressed the hope

M.

that both Interior Ministry and MFA representatives would attend future meetings

Refugees and South East Asia

5. Mrs Rogerson asked what mechanism the High Commissioner envisaged to make progress towards a political solution. M. Hocké

said he wanted the Honolulu Group expanded to include countries

important in the resettlement process, including UK and one or two others. He hoped that the Group would agree to this at its next meeting, around February. He thought most members were willing but

a fear that UK would put the emphasis unduly on Hong Kong.

there was

6.

Following an enlarged Honolulu Group, M. Hocké saw a dialogue with ASEAN to persuade them to adopt a positive approach; he thought a demarche to Thailand might be necessary indicating that they could not have things both ways. Finally, in response to a question, he said he hoped there would be an approach to the Vietnamese to suggest new "rules of the game", with a view to facilitating voluntary repatriation. A Vietnamese delegation was due in Geneva the following day to discuss the orderly departure programme with UNHCR, the Americans and others. He himself was ready to go to

Hanoi when there was a chance of progress, possibly in the first half of 1987, but it would only be worthwhile for him to go if he had something in the way of economic assistance to offer.

UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT

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