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HKCB 243/23 1/ RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
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From: A R Brenton
United Nations Dept
Date: 6 February 1990
Mr McLaren PS/Mr Maude
cc: Mr
Gillmore
Mr Colvin, SEAD
Mr Paul, HKD Special Advisers Mr Haswell, HKD
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: INFORMATION ACTIVITIES
1.
4
I have seen Mr Haswell's minute of 2 February and have a couple of comments on his paragraph 4 (on UNHCR's contribution to the voluntary programme).
2.
The first is that it might be more effective for us to make our representations about the need for a better effort by UNHCR in Geneva than in Hong Kong. The Minister might, for example, write to Stoltenberg setting out the areas where we believe the UNHCR could do more to live up to its commitments under the CPA, and this message might be supported orally as necessary by our mission or by a visitor from London. Given the state of relations between the Hong Kong Government and Van Leeuwen, it seems more likely that we can affect the latter's performance through instructions from his superiors than by approaching him direct.
3. My second comment concerns the possibility of our seeking Van Leeuwen's removal. I am not sure how far discussion on this has gone but would urge some caution. In most parts of the world the local UNHCR representative is a force for good, and a supporter of international standards to which we subscribe. These gentlemen are consequently not always popular with the local authorities and have on occasion been expelled (most recently in Somalia). We have on the whole spoken out against such expulsions and have regretted their effects (not least on the good use of UNHCR funds to which we contribute substantially). It would be regrettable if we took any action which undermined UNHCR's generally high overseas standing and our future ability to support it.
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