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5. I asked Nguyen whether he thought this intake would be in addition to the 135 on the lists we gave the French last year. He seemed to think not: few of the 135 spoke
much French.
6. Money evidently remains a problem for this new project. Nguyen said that the UNHCR had agreed to fund up to 50% of the ESF programme, but the association was still looking for the balance. He wondered whether we knew of any UK organisations which might be able to contribute; I said I would put the question to you. He also wondered whether British Airways could offer any concessionary fares between Europe and Hong Kong for the volunteers. (Is there any chance of Cathay Pacific's considering a PR gesture, marking their new Paris/Hong Kong route?) My only thought on this is to wonder whether Hong Kong might be able to let us have a list, for passing to ESF, of major French banks and companies active in Hong Kong (who might consider supporting such a project)?
7.
Nguyen seemed serious, realistic, pragmatic and unpolitical. But I do not know that we can tell you much more about ESF from here. It is evidently a more modest operation (no Paris offices) than Médecins Sans Frontières, with whom Nguyen was associated earlier. Perhaps UNHCR can give a view, based on their existing operations in Thailand and Malaysia.
French Consulate-General
8.
Nguyen said that the French Consulate-General in Hong Kong still had a certain degree of discretion on individual refugees, but the official now responsible there for refugee questions took a narrower, bureaucratic view than her predecessor. I suggested that he tried to have a word with the Deputy Consul- General-designate, Jean-Pierre Montagne, who is due to take up his post next month (and whom I have been trying hard to indoctrinate). I do not know whether Hong Kong may see scope for further action there. But clearly the main problem remains in Paris, Where we shall continue our efforts.
9. I should just add that Nguyen seemed appreciative of the reception he was given in Hong Kong and to understand well the difficulties of absorbing more refugees in the territory itself.
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Yours ever
Nigel Cox.
N J Cox
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