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Mr Fogarty, ODA
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Private Secretary PS/Lord Privy Seal PS/Mr Hurd
PS/Mr Blaker
PS/PUS
Mr Murray
Mr Bayne
Mr McLaren
Mr Simons
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No 1830.6
(1055
Mr Simpson-Orlebar (UND)
INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES:
UK CONTRIBUTION TO UNHCR FUNDS
1. As I explained to you on the telephone, the Secretary of State has decided to send a Minister (Mr Blaker) to Geneva to put some steam behind the Prime Minister's proposal that the UN Secretary General should call an international conference about Vietnamese refugees. As you know, our own record in taking refugees is not a very striking one and, although we can explain this in part by our problems over immigration, unemployment etc, these arguments are not likely to be altogether convincing to the international community other countries face similar economic problems. At any con- ference we shall certainly be placed under very strong pressure to do more.
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as many
2. Against this background, it seems to us essential that we should be as generous as possible in our financial contributions, to the UNHCR activities on behalf of South-East Asian refugees. In particular it would strengthen Mr Blaker's hands very consider- ably if when he goes to Geneva shortly he could make a new offer of financial assistance.
3. I understand that the UNHCR's activities in South-East Asia are financed from his general programme. Last year we pledged £3.5 m. to the general programme for 1979. This was designed to maintain our contribution at a level of about 8.5%. Since then however the UNHCR has been compelled to revise his budget estimates upwards to US$ 115m. So that the UK share of the budget can be maintained at 8.5%, a further UK contribution of £1.25 m. would, I understand, be, required.
4.
As you know, the flood of refugees from Indo-China to South-East Asian countries and Hong Kong has increased to crisis proportions. Hong Kong alone has now got over 44,000 refugees awaiting resettlement and has been receiving more than 1,000 boat people every day. We are pressing the UNHCR to do more for the refugees arriving in Hong Kong. We estimate that the cost to the UNHCR of undertaking responsibility for the refugees who have recently arrived in Hong Kong could be of the order of US$ 30 m. for the remainder of this calendar year. This is a further reason for our making an additional contribution to the UNHCR funds.
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