1. AT HIS MEETING TODAY WITH HARTLING, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG CONCLUDED AN AGREEMENT ON INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR COST SHARING AND ADMINISTRATION PENDING THE RESULTS (F THE PROPOSED UN CONFERENCE. TEXT IS IN MIFT. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT AT A REASONABLE INTERVAL AFTER THE CONFERENCE THERE SHOULD BE FURTHER CONSULTATIONS TO REACH AGREEMENT ON LONG TERM ARRANGEMENTS.
2. THE GOVERNOR FORMALLY REQUESTED AGREEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT UNHCR SHOULD PAY ALL THE COSTS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG. IF THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE (AND HE FULLY RECOGNISED THE BUDGETARY LIMITS IMPOSED BY GOVERNMENTS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNHCR) HE REQUESTED THAT AS THE FIRST PRIORITY, THE UNHCR SHOULD MEET AS HIGH A PROPORTION AS POSSIBLE OF THE COSTS OF CARE
AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL SUCH REFUGEES. HE EXPLAINED THAT
UNHCR EXPENDITURE ON CARE AND MAINTENANCE HAD A VITAL SYMBOLIC
SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG PUBLIC OPINION. CAPITAL
EXPENDITURE (IE ON ACCOMMODATION) WAS LESS IMPORTANT AND WAS EASIER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ARRANGE ITSELF. INDEED, BUILDING WAS ALREADY GOING AHEAD AND SHOULD PROVIDE FOR 70,000 PLACES BY THE END OF JULY.
3. THE UNHCR HAD ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED A WORKING PAPER TO THE GOVERNOR OVER THE WEEKEND (COPIES BY BAG) WHICH PROPOSED ONCE FOR ALL EXPENDITURE OF DOLLARS 9 MILLION FOR THE PERIOD
1 MARCH TO 31 DECEMBER 1979. THE PAPER CONCLUDED AS FOLLOWS:-
1. UNHCR WILL ARRANGE THE REGISTRATION FO POŠSTAR.F RESETTLEMENT OF ALL VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
.11. TO ENSURE THIS UNHCR IS STRENGTHENING ITS INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL STAFF IN HONG KONG.
111. UNHCR WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SUBMT RESETTLEMENT
REGISTRATION FORMS TO THE CONSULAR MISSINS OF COUNTRIES OF
RESETTLEMENT.
IV. GIVEN, HOWEVER, THE CONSTRAINTS, BTH 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 PERMISION FOR THE REFUGEES TO
WORK.
V. ON ITS SIDE, UNHCR WILL MAKE A ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ALLOCATION TOWARDS ACCOMMODATION AND WILL ALLCATE FUNDS FOR ONE-TIME CARE AND MAINTENANCE GRANTS. UNHCR IS ASO PREPARED TO APPROACH THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY FOR A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION OF
FOOD AID.
VI. UNHCR IS PREPARED TO CONSIER PROPOSALS FROM THE
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST N THE PROVISION OF PERMANENT