27-MAY-1993 18:51
HI GO ERNMENT HOUSE
852 521 1866
P.11
VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR COSTS
FIRST
AZUT TEAZ
BAT TAV
A
Background
In 1988,
the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) gave an undertaking το the hong nong Government to meet the cost of maintaining the Vietnamese
migrants in the territory i.e. the cost of feeding them.
Because of under-funding of the Comprehensive Plan of
Action
countries, the UNHCR has not heen
able to meet this financial commitment. They now owe Hong
Kong about US$100 million and the debt is growing.
2.
about the
financial
by
donor
Hong Kong's legislators have expressed concern
size of the debt and have grumbled about the
Duraen imposed on the territory by the Vietnamese
The annual cost to Hong Kong is running at approximately US$128 million. They have also been critical
of the British Government's failure to meet what they
consider to be a fairer share of the burden.
migrants.
3.
In voicing these criticisms, they, and
particularly the UDHK, have on occasion erroneously argued
that the UNHCR debt has arisen because the first asylum policy was imposed on Hong Kong by the sovereign power and,
therefore, the British Government should repay the monies
owing to Hong Kong.
Line to Take
4.
The British Government is also concerned about the
UNHCR debt to Hong Kong and will continue to use its best
Andeavours to seek recovery of the monies owing.