CR 2/4821/75 VI
9 October 1978
Thank you for your letter 78/KL/1347 of 23 September. It only reached me on 3 October and I am sorry that because of pressure of work I have not been able to reply sooner.
During Mr Homann-Herimberg's recent visit to Hong Kong I did suggest that there might be advantage in UNHCR officials working here on the problem of "small-boat" refugees from Vietnam having a direct link to the U NHCR headquarters in Geneva. You are also right to say that I had not made this suggestion to you during your last visit to Hong_Kong. This suggestion arose in the context of a general discussion with Mr Homann-Herinberg of the refugee problem in Hong Kong and the prospects for onward resettlement. The implications of the recent increase in the size of the problem have been causing us concern, as I know has been true for you also. We felt and told Mr Homann-Herimberg - that ve were particularly aware of the higher costs in Hong Kong for accommodation. It seemed to us that this might well mean that a different type of UNHCR operation would be called for. As you know, the Hong Kong Government has recently been discussing with Mr Carpenter, the US Consulate-General and voluntary agencies here, the possibility of a transit centre being set up in some vacant buildings in Kovloon ("Jubilee Buildings"). The prospects look encouraging. However, we believe that the plans for making the initial capital outlay to render the property suitable for this purpose and the subsequent management arrangements between U N HC R and one of the local voluntary agencies, may raise somewhat different problems from those encountered elsewhere in the region. On some matters it there- fore seems that it might be more appropriate for the local U N H CR representative to have a direct link to Geneva.
I should like to add that this suggestion vas discussed with Mr Homann-Herimberg on the basis that ve all vished to explore ways in which the refugee
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