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MDHIAN 662
MY STRONG IMPRESSION IS THAT JUST AS THE SITUATION IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCES PROVED A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE 1991 EXODUS TO HONG KONG SO THE PROBLEMS OF REINTEGRATION THERE COULD BE CRUCIAL FOR THE WHOLE PROGRAMME GIVEN THE AREA'S EXTREME POVERTY AND LACK OF READILY DEVELOPED ECONOMIC RESOURCES. I THINK THIS NEEDS PRIORITY ATTENTION.
3. THE PROVINCE OF QUANG NINH IS RELATIVELY SANQUINE ABOUT ITS CAPACITY TO CONTINUE TO ABSORB ''AT A NORMAL RATE'' RETURNEES FROM HONG KONG. THE VICE CHAIRMAN CONFIRMED THIS TO ME YESTERDAY. IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS ATTITUDE IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE AID NOTABLY FROM HMG IN THE 80:20 SCHEME RECEIVED BY QUANG NINH IN THE RECENT PAST. IT IS A PITY THAT THE AMOUNT OF NEARLY POUNDS STERLING 300,000 APPARENTLY PROMISED BY ODA TO THE MARIE STOPES INSTITUTE FOR BIRTH CONTROL/PRIMARY HEALTH CARE UNDER THE 80:20 SCHEME IS NOT STILL AVAILABLE FOR DEPLOYMENT ON TWO OR THREE JOB CREATION PROJECTS ON THE LINES OF THE ACTION AID PROJECT NOW COMPLETED. SUCH A MODEST EXTRA AMOUNT COULD WELL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY QUANG NINH'S ABILITY TO ABSORB AND ATTRACT RETURNEES.
COMMENT
4.
IF WE CAN GET A REASONABLE MICRO PROJECT PROGRAMME WORKING SOON IN THE PROVINCES WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFUSE AT LEAST SOME OF THE PRESSURE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHICH THE CENTRAL GOVERNNT CLAIM UNDER FROM THE AUTHORITIES. IT WOULD ALSO
BE A STRIKING DEMONSTRATION OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE PROPOSALS IN LORD CAITHNESS' LETTER TO HIS VIETNAMESE COUNTERPART COULD BE RAPIDLY AND EFFECTIVELY TRANSLATED INTO ACTION.
WILLIAMS
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ΜΑΙΝ
121
.VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN HK
SEAD
LEGAL ADVISERS
PUSD
INFO D
DISTRIBUTION
127
ECFAD/ODA//HD
PS
PS/MRS CHALKER
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/MR LENNOX-BOYD
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