TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 223

EC/SCP/16 page 2

Introduction

:

1.

At its 31st session in October 1980, the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme requested the High Commissioner to convene a group of experts to examine temporary refuge in all its aspects within the framework of problems raised by large-scale influx.

2. Pursuant to this request, a group of experts from countries members of the Executive Committee and representing different regions of the world was convened by the High Commissioner. The group met in the Palais des Nations at Geneva from 21 to 24 April 1981 (the participants are listed in Annex 1).

3. The meeting had before it a background paper prepared by the Office of

UNHCR, and a working paper submitted by the expert from Australia. */

Opening Statement by the High Commissioner. */

4. The first requirement for a refugee was to be admitted to a country of refuge. No one should be returned to a country where he feared persecution. However, the large-scale influx of asylum-seekers has caused serious problems and the Executive Committee has repeatedly drawn attention to the necessity of granting at least temporary refuge. On the other hand, resettlement of such populations elsewhere was not always successful, and the temporary nature of their stay in countries of first asylum had considerable disadvantages, both of a material and legal nature. When considering the various problems arising in mass-influx situations, it was necessary to ensure that the basic principles for the protection of refugees and asylum-seekers were maintained.

The Director of International Protection took the chair.

)

*These papers are available upon request.