CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 24315
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 27 AUG 1980
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
I C Orr Esq
Assistant Political Adviser
Government Secretariat
HONG KONG
233-4381
see
26 August 1980
INCLUDES
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: BELIZE
1. As you know, there has been a suggestion floating around for some time that Belize might accept 1,000 Vietnamese refugees from Hong Kong. The Belize Government are keen on the proposal but there is a financial problem. UNHCR would pay for transport through ICEM but could not meet resettle- ment costs.
2. Baroness Vickers suggested to Denis Bray (his letter of 23 July to me copied to the Secretary for Security) that ICRC might pick up this bill, but unfortunately this appears to be a non-starter. The total cost is US$140,000. I thought you should know this and want to consider whether the Hong Kong Government would be prepared to meet the cost. I realise that this could set a difficult precedent but thought I should put it to you nonetheless. ODA are being asked to help but I have little hope that they will be able to do so in view of the tightness of aid money these days.
3.
The #140,000 is made up of $100,000 resettlement costs at $700 for 200 families and $40,000 consultancy fees for Booker Agricultural International Ltd., a well-known British firm of agricultural project consultants.
5.
I should be grateful for your reactions in due course.
Cc:
P Morrice
Hong Kong and General Department
Mr Kydd, MCD
Mrs Anderson, UND
Mr Ford, HKGÓ, London
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