}
RESTRICTED
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 419
OF 031539Z JULY 1989
RESTRICTED
HKB 243/11
ГОР
гOP COPY Q DIST ?
a
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, TOKYO, UKREP BRUSSELS
88
262311
MDHIAN 1727
HONG KONG TELNO 2198: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: FINANCE
SUMMARY
1. UNHCR CANNOT CONCLUDE NORMAL REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENTS, AS REQUESTED BY HONG KONG, UNTIL CONTRIBUTIONS ANNOUNCED SO FAR HAVE BEEN PAID INTO THEIR ACCOUNT.
DETAIL
-
2. UNHCR HAVE REITERATED THAT, DESPITE THE RECENT JAPANESE AND EC PLEDGES, THEY HAVE NO MONEY TO MEET THEIR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS IN HONG KONG. THE JAPANESE SEEM TO BE SPEAKING WITH TWO VOICES, DEPENDING ON THEIR AUDIENCE. IN TWO LETTERS TO UNHCR DATED 20 AND 26 JUNE (COPIED BY BAG TO DEPARTMENT AND HONG KONG PLEASE PROTECT), THE JAPANESE PERMANENT MISSION PLEDGED THE US DOLLARS 11M TO UNCHR'S INDOCHINESE GENERAL PROGRAMMES AND MADE NO (NO) MENTION OF HONG KONG (CONTRARY TO PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY JAPANESE IN HONG KONG ON 13 JUNE). GIVEN THEIR OTHER FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS IN THE REGION, UNHCR HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO DRAW ON THE JAPANESE PLEDGE TO FUND THE INTRODUCTION OF SCREENING IN THE ASEAN COUNTRIES, IF THEY ARE TO MEET THE AGREED DEADLINE OF 1 AUGUST.
3. ACCORDING TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S OFFICE HERE, THEIR PLEDGE OF 2.2M ECU TO UNHCR'S HONG KONG APPEAL OF 12 MAY, RELATES TO THE
COSTS OF PRIMARY EDUCATION AND ADULT AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND
NOT TO GENERAL CARE AND MAINTENANCE.
COMMENT
4. WE SHALL CONTINUE TO PRESS UNHCR TO REIMBURSE HONG KONG FOR ITS SHARE OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, BUT WE THINK IT UNLIKELY THAT UNHCR WILL COMMIT ITSELF TO ANY AGREEMENT
UNTIL MORE MONEY IS AVAILABLE. TO HELP CLARIFY UNHCR'S FUNDING
PROBLEMS WE ARE COPYING TO HONG KONG AND UKREP BRUSSELS OUR TELNO
411 ON UNHCR'S SERIOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION.
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