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GRS 400 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2470
CONFIDENTIAL
OF 1209O5Z NOVEMBER 85
382
Has Walker REAR SORRI
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, UKMIS GENEVA.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : TRAVEL COSTS FOR UK FAMILY REUNION CASES.
WHEN HE WAS IN LONDON, WOODHOUSE WAS TOLD THAT HMG HAD NO FUNDS TO PAY THE TRAVEL COSTS OF THE APPROXIMATELY 500 REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WITH CLOSE FAMILY TIES IN UK. HE AGREED TO SEE WHETHER ANYTHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP.
2. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE UNHCR HERE, WHICH HAS ITS OWN FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. MORE RECENTLY ICM HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN, BECAUSE IT MAKES THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND, INITIALLY PAYS THE TRANSIT COSTS.
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3. THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY BECAUSE BRC INFORMED WOODHOUSE IN LONDON THAT IT HAD OBTAINED ACCOMMODATION FOR TWO LARGE FAMILIES, BUT THE OFFER WOULD LAPSE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER. WE HAVE CONCENTRATED ON SEEKING THE AGREEMENT OF THESE FIRST TWO FAMILIES (INVOLVING 21 PEOPLE) AND HAVE INFORMED THE HOME OFFICE OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO GO TO UK. WE HOPE THAT THEY CAN LEAVE NEXT WEEK.
4. UNHCR HERE HAS SOUGHT AUTHORITY TO UNDERWRITE THE TRAVEL COSTS OF THESE FIRST 21 FAMILY REUNION CASES, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A LITTLE RESENTMENT AT HMG'S INABILITY TO PAY. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO ICM AND BEEN ASSURED BY KOTTEK (REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE) THAT IT WILL (WILL) PAY THE TRAVEL COSTS OF THE 21 AND WILL SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM UNHCR, WHICH, IN TURN, CAN SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM HMG. KOTTEK EXPLAINED THAT THE BOOK-KEEPING NORMALLY TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THIS YEAR'S TRAVEL COSTS COULD BE BILLER IN THE 1986/87 FINANCIAL YEAR.
5. THE UNHCR CHARGE (KARIM) AT OUR URGING TELEPHONED GENEVA TO SEEK ITS BLESSING. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE UNHCR REPRESENTATIVE IM LONDON WOULD APPROACH HMG ON THIS MATTER.
CONFIDENTIAL
MICK 24312 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 13 NOV 1935
DESK OFFICER
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Action Taken
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