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UNHCR debt to Hong Kong
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Following is a question by the Hon Henry Tang and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):
Question:
In view of the huge amount of outstanding debt which the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has yet to repay the Hong Kong Government for looking after and maintaining the Vietnamese migrants (VMs), will the Government inform this Council of the following:
(a) what is the total sum presently owed by the UNHCR, when is this sum expected to be repaid in full, and what is the time-table for repayment;
(b) how much is the Government required to contribute towards such cost before the repatriation of all VMs, and what are the purposes for which the Government's contributions will be used; and
(c) will the Government seek the commitment of the British Government to repay any outstanding debt not fully repaid before July 1997?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a) Under the terms of a Statement of Understanding, entered into with the Hong Kong Government in 1988, the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) is responsible for meeting the costs of the care and maintenance of the Vietnamese migrants (VM) in Hong Kong's camps. Since 1989, the UNHCR has only been able to reimburse a proportion of these costs and, as at 30 September 1995, owed the Hong Kong Government about $1 billion.
As we have done in the past, we shall continue to remind UNHCR to discharge their debt to us. The UNHCR has re-affirmed their commitment to repay the amount owed on many occasions, most recently in September this year. But UNHCR has no independent funds and relies on contributions from the international community.