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FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 579
OF 191511Z SEPTEMBER 1989
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, HANOI
131
YOUR TELNO 1879 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
1. YOU SUGGESTED IN PARA 3 OF TUR THAT HONG KONG MIGHT OPEN A ''SUSPENSE'' ACCOUNT, PENDING UNHCR REIMBURSEMENT, TO COVER RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON VBPS IN HONG KONG.
2. WE SEE NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE BUT WOULD RECOMMEND CONSIDERABLE CAUTION. IN UNHCR'S CURRENT FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HONG KONG COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED REIMBURSEMENT IN FULL BY UNHCR. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FIGURES, UNHCR FACES A SHORTFALL OF AT LEAST US DOLLARS 60 M IN CALENDAR YEAR 1989 (15 PERCENT OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE ON UNHCR OPERATIONS IN 1989 WORLDWIDE), WHICH WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO 1990. DEPENDING ON DECISIONS AT THE UNHCR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN EARLY OCTOBER, THIS DEFICIT MAY HAVE TO BE COVERED BY DRASTIC PRUNING OF UNHCR'S OPERATIONS AND COSTS IN 1990. THIS IN TURN WILL AFFECT UNHCR'S ABILITY TO MEET IN 1990 ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO HONG
KONG WHICH HAD BEEN DEFERRED FROM THIS YEAR.
SANKEY
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
111
DISTRIBUTION
118
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
ECD (E)
FED
RMD
PS
PAGE
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
MR SLATER
1
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