TNAG-1544-FCO40-2108-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-Intergovernmental-Consultativ-1987 — Page 70

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(AN

OURSELVES IN CURRENT DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE AMONG MEMBERS OF

THE SO-CALLED QUOTE HONOLULU GROUP UNQUOTE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT

THIS COMPRISES THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES (THE US, AUSTRALIA

AND CANADA), JAPAN AND THE UNHCR, AND MEETS PERIODICALLY IN

GENEVA FOR INFORMAL DISCUSSION ON REFUGEE AND RESETTLEMENT

MATTERS. IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY APPARENT THAT THE HONOLULU

GROUP IS ALREADY ADDRESSING THE SAME CONCERNS AS OURSELVES.

AUSTRALIAN PAPER DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE GROUP (IN

JUNE) DREW ATTENTION TO THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM: TO

THE FACT THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE QUOTE REFUGEES UNQUOTE

WERE SEEKING BETTER ECONOMIC PROSPECTS RATHER THAN FLEEING FROM

POLITICAL PERSECUTION: AND TO THE PROBLEMS POSED THEREBY FOR

RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM.)

3.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ASSOCIATION WILL BE WELCOMED BY OTHER

MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. WE ANTICIPATE THAT IF WE ARE ABLE TO

INITIATE DISCUSSIONS DURING SEPTEMBER, THE OCTOBER MEETING OF THE

UNHCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAY THEN OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE

INTENSIVE DISCUSSION IN THE MARGINS, AND POSSIBLY EVEN FOR

SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE IN EXCOM ITSELF.

4 a

OUR FIRST EFFORTS WITHIN THE GROUP WILL BE VERY

EXPLORATORY, DIRECTED AT ESTABLISHING WHAT COMMON GROUND MIGHT

EXIST. WE SHALL ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER IN DUE COURSE HOW AND WHEN

COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM MIGHT BE BROUGHT INTO THESE

CONSULTATIONS. OUR INITIAL VIEW IS THAT SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF OTHER MEMBERS THEY MIGHT BE BROUGHT IN AROUND EARLY 1987.

5.

ON THIS BASIS WE ARE INSTRUCTING UKMIS GENEVA TO APPROACH

UNHCR AND MISSIONS OF HONOLULU GROUP MEMBERS ON THE FOLLOWING

LINES, AND SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD MAKE PARALLEL

APPROACHES TO YOUR HOST GOVERNMENTS:

(4)

IN VIEW OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG HMG REMAIN

VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF QUOTE BOAT

PEOPLE UNQUOTE FROM VIETNAM. DESPITE CONTINUING OVERSEAS

RESETTLEMENT OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG CAMPS, NEW

ARRIVALS CONTINUE TO SWELL NUMBERS IN THE CAMPS. HONG

KONG'S ARRIVAL RATE THIS YEAR IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE RATE

OF LAST YEAR (1591 JANUARY-JULY 1986 COMPARED WITH 806

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