Macau
214. During 1970, 945 Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons arrived in Macau, compared to only 25 in 1977. In the course of the year, 113 persons departed to countries of permanent resettlement, leaving a total caseload of 850 persons at the close of the year. In co-operation with the local authorities and with the Diocese of Macau, UNHCR provided assistance in the form of care and maintenance to these refugees and displaced persons, pending their resettlement in third countries. UNHCR expenditures from Special Programmes for this purpose in 1973 totalled $605,000.
Malaysia
215. The most serious problem in Malaysia during 1978 was the arrival by boat of some 6,000 Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons, compared to fewer than 6,000 in 1977. During the year, 17,427 persons departed for permanent resettlement abroad, leaving a caseload of 49,577 at the close of the year. The provision of adequate accommodation and basic services for such large numbers required intensive efforts and considerable funds. The majority of these persons were accommodated on the previously uninhabited island of Pulau Bidong, off the east coast of the Malayan peninsula, a site designated by the Government of Malaysia.
Smaller groups were accommodated on the islands of Pulau Besar, Pulau Tengah, and in camps such as those at Mersing, Cherating and Kuantan.
216. UNHCR assistance provided during 1978 was mainly directed at the provision of care and maintenance (e.g. food, water supply, health care and shelter) to meet immediate needs of the Indo-Chinese refugees and displaced persons.
In addition, measures were undertaken to facilitate their permanent resettlement in third countries. UNHCR expenditures for care and maintenance during the year were $4,630,000 and this assistance was implemented by the Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS), in co-operation with the Malaysian Government authorities. In its efforts to facilitate resettlement in third countries, UNHCR worked closely with ICEH, officials of Governments concerned, and a large number of voluntary agencies in the countries of resettlement.
217. Special problems were posed by the arrival in Malaysian waters in November 1978 of the ship "Hai Hong", carrying 2,387 refugees and displaced persons from Viet Nam. The Government of Malaysia allowed disembarkation of the ship's passengers only under specific resettlement guarantees from third countries. By the end of 1973, all but some 900 of the "Hai Hong" passengers had departed to resettlement countries. UNHCR provided both care and maintenance, and resettlement assistance to this group.
218. Assistance to needy groups among the 90,000 Filipino refugees in the Malaysian State of Sabah continued in 1978 from General Programmes. Housing, that was urgently needed for some 5,000 of these refugees living in Kota Kinabalu and Labuan was completed during 1978 and efforts were devoted to improving the earning capacity of the refugees. An agreement was concluded in November 1978 with the State Government of Sabah to assist an additional 3,500 refugees from the Philippines living in and around Tavau. UNHCR assistance included the provision of relief commodities, housing, as well as fishing equipment, classrooms and communal facilities. An amount of $500,000 was spent for these purposes under the General Programmes in 1978.
219. Total expenditures in Malaysia in 1970 under the General Programmes amounted to some $554,600 and under the Special Programmes to some $5,034,300.