CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1319
OF 27070OZ APRIL 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
CONFIDENTIAL
MED 243/20
Top GOPY
DAT ?
46
014430 MDHIAN 2359
UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 219: OUR TELNO 1289: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
FINANCE
Yo
(39)
WE AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF UKMIS GENEVA TUR.
THERE IS LITTLE TO BE GAINED FROM A COSMETIC APPEAL WHEREAS AN
EXPANSION TO US20 MILLION LOOKS ATTRACTIVE. A DELAY UNTIL THE WEEK
BEGINNING 8 MAY WOULD NOT CAUSE US ANY DIFFICULTIES.
2. WE ARE SLIGHTLY SURPRISED THAT UNHCR SEEM TO BE PREPARED (PARA
3 OF UKMIS GENEVA TUR) TO CONSIDER FUNDING ACCOMMODATION FOR NEW ARRIVALS. IF UNHCR WISH TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THIS EXPANDED APPEAL WE
AND THEY MUST BE UNDER NO ILLUSION AS TO THE EFFECT ON LEGCO HERE:
ONCE THE SCOPE OF THE APPEAL IS ANNOUNCED MEMBERS WILL CONCLUDE THAT
WE ARE ABSOLVED OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEETING THE COSTS OF ACCOMMODATING FURTHER ARRIVALS. (THIS SHOULD HOWEVER NOT/NOT AFFECT
THE PROVISION OF FUNDS FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF WHITEHEAD PLUS OTHER EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION SINCE THIS IS NOW DUE TO BE CONSIDERED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 3 MAY.: OUR TELNO 1315 REFERS.) WE ALSO NEED
TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE PURPOSES TO WHICH THE FUNDS MIGHT BE PUT. IN
GENERAL TERMS WE SEE THE OBJECTIVE AS BEING TO RAISE FUNDS TO ENABLE
UNHCR TO REIMBURSE HKG FOR EXPENDITURE ON ACCOMMODATION FOR VBP
AND REFUGEES. THE APPEAL SHOULD THEREFORE COVER:
(A) THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE PILLAR POINT REFUGEE CAMP:
(B) THE COST OF PROVIDING NEW EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR NEWLY ARRIVED VBP: AND
(C) THE COST OF RENOVATING THE EXISTING REFUGEE CAMPTS.
3. WE ARE HOWEVER SLIGHTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REFERENCE IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF FIRST TUR TO QUOTE OTHER UNHCR REQUIREMENTS IN HONG
KONG IN 1989 UNQUOTE. UNHCR HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY WILL HAVE
DIFFICULTY IN REIMBURSING HKG FOR EXPENDITURE ON THE CARE AND MAIN- TENANCE OF VBP AS AGREED IN THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING. THEY HAVE
ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS IN FUNDING THEIR VOLUNTARY
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL