Mr Leahy
PS
RESTRICTED
HKK 2431
RECEIVED
643
DESK OPR
INDSK
FA
no 810151
भण
A
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)
1. Mr Paul Hartling, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has sent a telegram of congratulation to the Secretary of State on his appointment. i submit a draft acknowledgement which Sir James Murray, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, could pass on to
Mr Hartling.
*
BACKGROUND
2. Mr Hartling, a former Prime Minister o` Denmark, was appointed UNHCR by acclamation of the UN General Assembly in December 1977. His task as High Commiss oner is a formid- able one by any standards. He has made a good start. Our relations with his office in Geneva are close. Britain has always been an active member of the UNHCR Executive Committee (presently comprising 31 U member states), which meets in October each year to advise the High Commissioner on his programmes and approve his budget.
3. Since the establishment of the Office of the UNHCR in 1951, Britain has been a generous financial contributor to its various programmes of assistance to refugees throughout the world. The current major areas of concern are South East Asia (where Hong Kong in particular is coping with thousands of Vietnamese boat refugees) and Southern Africa. During 1978, Britain gave nearly £7 million for the High Commissioner's various programmes and, so far during 1979, has pledged £3.5 million to his General Programme
RESTRICTED
/(which