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MDHIAN 4777
THE US BELIEVES THAT UNHCR IS SEIZED WITH CORRECTING THESE
DEFICIENCIES. THE US WILL FOLLOW-UP VIGOROUSLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS WITH UNHCR TO SEE THAT EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO MAKE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION COUNSELING FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY. A SIMILAR UK EFFORT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL.
THE US UNDERSTANDS THAT FUNDING FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS
NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. UNHCR'S HONG KONG OFFICE ANTICIPATES THAT IT MAY REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL US DOLLARS 500,000 TO: (1) HIRE 20 ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION COUNSELORS: (2) HIRE 4 MORE
CONSULTANTS TO MONITOR THE APPEALS PROCESS: AND (3) COVER OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF VOLUNTARY
REPATRIATION AND SCREENING.
THE US FURTHER UNDERSTANDS THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING MAY BE
REQUIRED FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURES, AND THAT THESE NEEDS ARE BEING DETERMINED THIS WEEK BY A JOINT UNHCR-HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TEAM IN GENEVA.
THE US IS PREPARED TO MAKE AVAILABLE AN ADDITIONAL US DOLLARS
1.6 MILLION FROM OUR EMERGENCY FUND FOR NEEDS IN HONG KONG. THE
US IS NOW EXPLORING WITH UNHCR HOW THESE FUNDS CAN BE USED TO
SUPPORT THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAM. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN ADDITION TO THE US DOLLARS 500,000 MENTIONED ABOVE UNHCR MAY ALSO REQUIRE FUNDING FOR TRANSPORT OF VOLUNTARY REPATRIATES TO VIETNAM, AND FOR ADDITIONAL MONITORING STAFF IN VIETNAM. WE WILL CONSIDER
PLEDGING FOR SUCH PURPOSES. WE WILL ALSO INSTRUCT OUR CONSULATE
IN HONG KONG TO DEVELOP, IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNHCR, A ROLE FOR US OFFICIALS IN COUNSELING OF THE SCREENED-OUT.
THE US HOPES THAT HMG WILL TAKE A SIMILARLY AGGRESSIVE AND
EFFECTIVE ROLE IN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THE UNHCR'S PROGRAM A SUCCESS. THE US WOULD WELCOME THE UK MAKING A FURTHER PLEDGE TO UNHCR, ESPECIALLY FOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS IN HONG KONG. THE VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS IN WHICH ASYLUM SEEKERS NOW FIND
THEMSELVES SHELTERED IS ALMOST CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE
ESCALATING LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN THE CAMPS. IN ADDITION, SERIOUS
CONCERNS HAVE ARISEN CONCERNING THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE ASYLUM
SEEKER POPULATION.
THE US URGES HMG TO APPROACH OTHER UNHCR DONOR GOVERNMENTS
FOR HELP WITH FUNDING NEEDS IN HONG KONG. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND
THAT UNHCR IS PRESSING VIETNAM TO EXPEDITE PROCESSING OF
APPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. WE URGE HMG TO FULLY SUPPORT THIS EFFORT. FINALLY, HMG HAS INDICATED THAT SEVERAL BRITISH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES (OXFAM, SAVE THE CHILDREN, BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL) ARE ANXIOUS TO DO MORE IN HONG KONG AND VIETNAM.
THE US URGES HMG TO EXPLORE WITH UNHCR HOW THESE PRIVATE VOLUNTARY
AGENCIES COULD SERVE AS UNHCR OPERATIONAL PARTNERS IN THE
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