TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 7

/L

/M

/N

/0

CONFIDENTIAL

in the universal refugee instruments should be regarded as the basis for UNHCR protection activities in other parts of the world. The UK was not happy with the definition being applied to the UNHCR activities in Africa (see flag L and copy of UK statement in protection debate attached, flag M). The UK believed that to apply the OAU definition in Africa and the UNHCR's original mandate elsewhere would create a dichotomy.

11. The UNHCR Executive Committee expressed satisfaction with the topics considered and conclusions adopted by the Sub-Committee at its meeting. The discussions on the question of temporary refuge in situations of large scale influx were regarded as particularly valuable. The Sub-Committee's conclusions on temporary refuge were held to represent an important first step in the formulation of international standards to be applied in the case of large-scale influxes. The Executive Committee adopted the conclusions recommended by the Sub-Committee (flag N) including that "in situations of large-scale influex, asylum seekers should be admitted to the State in which they first seek refuge and if that State is unable to admit them on a durable basis, it should always admit them at least on a temporary basis..." (see Conclusion 22 (XXXII) in the 1987 paper).

12. The British view of the Australian initiative on international protection (flag 0) was given during the debate of the Executive Committee. The UK representative welcomed the work of the Group of Experts and was "pleased that the original ideas have now been consolidated in conclusions which have our full support".

APRIL 1988

SALAFQ

CONFIDENTIAL