CONFIDENTIAL
167001
MDHIAN 8689
TO HONOUR ITS DEBTS TO HONG KONG. AS FOR HMG, WE COULD NOT CONTEMPLATE FURTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AS LONG AS THERE WERE DOUBTS WHETHER EXISTING PROGRAMMES WERE EFFECTIVELY CHANNELING MONEY TO WHERE THE NEED WAS GREATEST. WE ARGUED THAT THE FIRST TASK WAS TO FIND WAYS OF IMPROVING THE IMPACT OF PRESENT PROGRAMMES AND LORD CAITHNESS PROMISED TO LOOK INTO THE POINTS RAISED WITH URGENCY.
8. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION WITH THE ACTING REPRESENTATIVE OF UNHCR WHO BELIEVES THAT THE PRIMARY MOTIVATION IS THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES NOW BEING FACED BY THE LOCAL VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES IN ABSORBING THE GROWING NUMBERS OF RETURNEES. HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND A DEPRESSED ECONOMY COMPOUND THE DIFFICULTIES AS DOES THE APPALLING INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH MAKES COMMUNICATIONS WITH DISTANT COASTAL VILLAGES SO DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING. A RECENT INTERNAL CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR MAY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE PROBLEMS IN THE PROVINCES. THE UNHCR BELIEVE TOO THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE BEGINNING TO REALISE THAT AS THE NUMBERS OF RETURNEES INCREASES SO WILL THEIR DIFFICULTIES WITH UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, TROUBLE-MAKERS AND THE MENTALLY ILL. UNHCR ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF MONEY AND (WITHOUT CONSULTING GENEVA PLEASE PROTECT) ARE ALREADY DIVERTING MORE OF THE RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO SMALL PROJECTS INTO THE HANDS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS. BUT, IN THE ABSENCE OF MOUCHET, THE LOCAL UNHCR OFFICE OPPOSE THE FORMAL TRANSFER OF REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE INDIVIDUAL (UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 4 TO YOU) BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD GREATLY COMPLICATE THEIR WORK TO HAVE TWO TYPES OF UNHCR SUPPORTED RETURNEE, ONE FUNDED DIRECTLY, THE OTHER INDIRECTLY, AND BECAUSE DONORS REMAIN SUSPICIOUS THAT MONEY GIVEN TO. THE STATE WOULD FAIL TO MAKE ITS WAY IN FULL TO THE INDIVIDUALS. SUCH SUMS WILL OF COURSE BE SMALL IF AS NOW ORP RETURNEES DECIDE TO VOLUNTEER AT THE LAST MOMENT AND THUS QUALIFY FOR THE DIRECT PAYMENTS GIVEN TO VOLUNTEERS.
THIS WAS
9. WE HAVE HANDED OVER TO THE VIETNAMESE COPIES OF HONG KONG'S COMPUTER BREAKDOWN OF THE CAMP POPULATION BY PROVINCE. WELCOMED, BUT THE VIETNAMESE SAID THAT A BREAKDOWN BY DISTRICT AND VILLAGE WOULD BE MUCH MORE USEFUL FOR THEIR PLANNING PURPOSES. WE AGREE AND HOPE HKG CAN COME UP WITH THESE FURTHER DETAILS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
10. PLEASE SEE MIFT FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.
WILLIAMS
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