SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret
Secret
Confidential
Restricted
Unclassified
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
DSR 11C (Revised 5/87) further call on the ODA's already overstretched refugee
funds. So far, we have been able to use aid funds to
respond to UNHCR appeals to solve the immediate problem
(most recently £6 million) but that has already put the
aid programme's in-year Contingency Reserve under very
I see no scope for further
considerable strain.
contributions from this source to what could become a
very large operation. We should also need to respond to
other refugee situations in Africa and Afghanistan and
retain some flexibility within the aid programme to meet
other genuine contingencies which may arise during the
remainder of the year. Other costs (such as the
construction of detention centres in Hong Kong or a
Regional Holding Centre for non-refugees) would clearly
not fall to the ODA, and could only be met from an
enhanced Diplomatic Wing vote.
I hope you will be prepared to consider urgently and
sympathetically any bids that may be necessary in the
coming months. I will of course keep you informed of
further developments.
Copies of this minute go to Chris Patten and
Simon Glenarthur.