TNAG-1795-FCO40-2555-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 280

CODE 18-77

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With the approach of the autumn round of meetings concerning refugees, it might be worth considering what measures we might take at the UN to maintain pressure on the Vietnamese to solve the outflow of asylum-seekers. The objective would be to

gather international support for moves to encourage them to stem the flow of boat people and to take back those who have been screened out in Hony Kong.

2.

The following options are available:-

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An UNGA resolution on asylum-seekers in South East Asia. But there is little time to carry out the detailed preparation for a new resolution and consult like-minded countries. Moreover, we would have to persuade another member state to take the lead: too active a role would expose HMG to criticism that the Hong Kong tail is wagging the London dog. A resolution might also be shot down as interference in the affairs of another state.

Addition of a paragraph to the regular UNGA resolution item on Cambodia. I attach a copy of last year's resolution 42/3 which concentrated on the political situation in Cambodia and the UN's procedures for tackling the problem. Apart from a reference to the withdrawal of foreign forces, the general thrust and tone of the resolution is not directly critical of Vietnam. It might

therefore be easy to find openings for language to put pressure on the Vietnamese regarding boatpeople. However, recent developments in Vietnam and the region suggest that this year's resolution will adopt a different emphasis. There would be value in taking an early opportunity to Yes.h talk to the resolution's ASEAN sponsors about how the text

could be adjusted to accommodate our concerns.

iii) Addition of a paragraph to the regular UNGA resolution on

UNHCR. But this resolution does not specify regions, is non-political and was passed by consensus last year. I do not think it would be worth opening it up.

iv)

A decision at this year's plenary meeting of UNHCR's Executive Committee (EXCOM) in early October. EXCOM "decisions" take the form of a resolution and there is no difficulty in promoting one that focusses on a specific geographical area: there were decisions last year on central America and Southern Africa. Decisions are taken by consensus, which might not be difficult to achieve,

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