Miss Vowles, APD
FROM:
DW Cherry
DATE:
11 November 1985
cc Mr Machin,
Mr Leader
Mr Wildash UND, FCO
Miss D Walker,
UKMIS Genera
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
FAMILY REUNION
We spoke briefly on the telephone on 8 November about a problem arising from the UK decision to allow 500 vietnamese boat people from Hong Kong to enter Britain.
2.
The problem is that UNCUR claims not to have enough money to pay travel costs for these people. Normally it would use its own General Programme Funds, to which UK makes an annual contribution of £3.4m. However the organization is so short of money that it cannot pay on this occasion. It has suggested that UK might pay pointing out that many other receiving governments are willing to pay resettlement costs themselves. is also considering the possibility of a Special Appeal for the specific need (about US $300,000).
3.
For your information it is not our policy to top up UNCHR's General Programme since we lose control of money passed to UNHCR in this way; instead we direct any help beyond the annual £3.4m to Special Appeals of particular interest to us throughout the year taking into account the degree of need and
aid criteria.
It
4.
It so happens that UK $300,000 cannot be spared from refugee funds at present. Not only has expenditure been very heavy this year but we have, exceptionally, had to transfer €1.0m from the refugee to the disaster sub-head. Refugee funds remaining uncommitted amount to about £0.4m for the rest of the year with a number of possible claims pending.
5. However, even if money were available I can see policy difficulties about ODA's agreeing to help with this expenditure. If the UNCHR had sufficient funds in the General Programme, there could be no objection to their paying but if ODA made any kind of special payment, eg in the form of a response to a Special Appeal or in the form of a special grant, it would surely create a precedent - viz that if HMG allows regugees to enter UK then aid funds can be used to bring them here. This could on some future occasions be an expensive charge on the aid programme.
6. My view is that it is for the Home office to find this money and that ODA should stand firm on this line, but I would welcome your advice and any comments Mr Leader may have.
17.