MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1988
FURTHER UK DONATION TO UNHCR WELCOMED
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (MONDAY) WELCOMED AN ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE UK GOVERNMENT THAT IT WAS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE A FURTHER ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING (HK$13.2 MILLION) TOWARDS THE UNHCR'S PROGRAMME FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
"THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE," HE SAID. "WE HOPE THAT OTHER DONOR COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE.
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THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT UNDER THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING RECENTLY CONCLUDED BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE UNHCR, THE UNHCR HAD CONFIRMED THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO MEET THE COSTS OF THE CARE, MAINTENANCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES REQUIRED BY ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS, REFUGEES, AND PERSONS FOUND NOT TO BE REFUGEES.
"THESE INCLUDE THE COSTS OF FOOD, WATER, FUEL, TRANSPORT, RELIEF ITEMS, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND LEGAL ADVICE.
"THE UNHCR HAS ALSO UNDERTAKEN TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, MEDICAL SERVICES, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR REFUGEES, HE SAID.
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IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE UK GOVERNMENT EARLIER TODAY, IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT THE IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTION OF A FURTHER ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING WAS MADE IN ORDER ΤΟ HELP MEET THE INCREASING COSTS OF THE UNHCR'S RAPIDLY EXPANDING PROGRAMME FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
THE DECISION FOLLOWS A RECENT VISIT TO CENTRES FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BY MR CHRIS PATTEN, MINISTER FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, AND BRINGS THE UK GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNHCR SO FAR THIS YEAR то JUST OVER 21 MILLION POUNDS STERLING.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT ADDED THAT THIS FURTHER ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING REPRESENTED AN INITIAL CONTRIBUTION BY THE UK GOVERNMENT, AND THAT CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO WHAT FURTHER HELP MIGHT BE PROVIDED FOR THIS IMPORTANT UNHCR PROGRAMME FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
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