RESTRICTED
HKB 243/11.
RESTRICTED
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 304
OF 290728Z MAY
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
53
135067
MDHIAN 6716
YOUR TELNO 137: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: UNHCR REIMBURSEMENT
PROVISION
1. UNHCR HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THEY PROPOSE TO DISCONTINUE OF FOOD AND RELIEF ITEMS TO VIETNAMESE REFUGEES (VRS) IN EMPLOYMENT AS FROM 30 JUNE 1989. WITH ABOUT 5,500 VRS NOW EMPLOYED (SOME 35 PER CENT OF THE VR POPULATION) UNHCR, FOLLOWING ITS PRACTICE ELSEWHERE, CANNOT JUSTIFY CONTINUED SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND RELIEF ITEMS FREE OF CHARGE. AFTER 30 JUNE, UNHCR EXPECT VRS TO MEET THEMSELVES THE COST OF FOOD ETC.
2. UNHCR SAID THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR PROGRAMMES FOR EDUCATION, MEDICAL SERVICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO ALL VRS AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOOD AND RELIEF ITEMS FREE OF CHARGE TO VRS WHO
ARE NOT EMPLOYED.
3. THE EXPANDED APPEAL FOR HONG KONG, LAUNCHED ON 12 MAY, RELECTS UNHCR DECISION ON WITHDRAWAL OF FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR VRS WHO ARE EMPLOYED. UNHCR POINT OUT THAT THE PER CAPITA COST (SOME US DOLLARS 1000) REFLECTED IN THE APPEAL IS THE HIGHEST FOR ANY UNHCR PROGRAMME. THIS HAS CAUSED SOME PROBLEMS AT HEADQUARTERS, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT PROVOKED CRITICISM FROM THE DONOR COMMUNITY. THE PROVISION OF FOOD AND RELIEF ITEMS FREE OF CHARGE TO VRS IN EMPLOYMENT WOULD HAVE INCREASED THE PER CAPITA COST AND, IN UNHCR'S VIEW, WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED.
4. UNHCR REGRET CURRENT MISUNDERSTANDINGS WITH HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OVER THE CAMPS AT SHAM SHUI PO AND TUEN MUN. THE CURRENT OVERCROWDING IN THE CAMPS AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL WITHDRAWAL OF SPACE FOR SCHOOLING AND OTHER FACILITIES MEANS THAT UNHCR CANNOT, IN CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, TAKE OVER THEIR MANAGEMENT. UNHCR HQ, HOWEVER, HAS ASKED UNHCR IN HONG KONG TO WORK CLOSELY WITH HKG ON PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS AND TO AVOID ARGUMENT ON THESE POINTS. UNHCR HOPED THAT REPLACEMENT OF KARIM BY VAN LEEUWEN WOULD ALLOW MATTERS
TO SETTLE. THEY EXPCETED VAN LEEUWEN TO TAKE A MUCH MORE PRAGMATIC
AND CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE.
1
PAGE RESTRICTED