CONFIDEN MAL
RESETTLEMENT.
IV. GIVEN, HOWEVER, THE CONSTRAINTS, BOTH IN TERMS OF THE OVER-ALL RESETTLEMENT NUMBERS AVAILABLE FOR HONG KONG AND THE
TIME IT WILL TAKE TO RESETTLE THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, UNHCR
WOULD WELCOME THE GOVERNMENT'S PERMISSION FOR THE REFUGEES TO
WORK.
V. ON ITS SIDE, UNHCR WILL MAKE AN ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ALLOCATION TOWARDS ACCOMMODATION AND WILL ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR ONE-TIME CARE
AND MAINTENANCE GRANTS. UNHCR IS ALSO PREPARED TO APPROACH THE
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY FOR A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION OF
FOOD AID,
VI. UNHCR IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS FROM THE
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF PERMANENT
HOUSING FOR REFUGEES WHO CAN BE LOCALLY SETTLED IN HONG KONG.
VII. IT WOULD BE HOPED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON ITS
SIDE, WOULD HELP THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SITES, SUCH AS ACCOMMODATION AS FEASIBLE, AND PROVIDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
AND FUNDS FOR THE RUNNING OF THE REFUGEE SITES.
4. THE GOVERNOR WELCOMED THE FIRST THREE OF THESE POINTS AND
OBTAINED CLARIFICATION THAT THEY APPLIED TO ALL BOAT REFUGEES
FROM VIETNAM.
5. ON POINT 11 THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO TREBLE THE UNHCR STAFF DEVOTED
TO PROCESSING. HARTLING REPLIED THAT THERE WERE NOW THREE
PROFESSIONALS, TEN LOCALS, AND FIVE LOCAL INTERVIEWING STAFF IN
HONG KONG: BUT HIS STAFFING WAS SUJECT TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.£
6. ON POINT IV THE GOVERNOR AGREED THAT WHEREVER FEASIBLE REFUGEES
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH THE IMPORTANT PROVISO THAT PERMISSION
MIGHT HAVE TO BE WITHDRAWN IF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS WORSENED.
7 ON POINT V HE EXPLAINED THAT THE REAL COST OF ACCOMMODATION WAS
VERY HIGH IF ONE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT LAND VALUES, BUT CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE ON ACCOMMODATION WAS A LESSER PRIORITY AMONG THE
CONTRIBUTIONS EXPECTED FROM UNHCR. ON THE OTHER HAND. HONG KONG
PEOPLE EXPECTED UNHCR TO UNDERTAKE CARE AND MAINTENANCE ON A
CONTINUING BASIS. (HE REFRAINED FROM MAKING THE POINT THAT THIS
RESPONSIBILITY WOULD GIVE UNHCR AN INCENTIVE TO RESETTLE REFUGEES QUICKLY).
2
CONFIDENTAL.
18. HARTLING
1
:
+