TNAG-0587-FCO40-720-Aid-from-UK-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 78

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v) Wings of Friendship had already sent £100 towards a truck and hoped to be collecting further funds. They had also sent money for educational equipment at the Middle Sc after receiving a report from one of its supporters who had visited the area.

The Chairman thanked Sir Robert ffolkes for his valuable report and hoped that the voluntary agencies would be able to contribute to the programmes for these groups of Tibetan refugees.

b) The Position of Tibetan Refugees in Nepal

Sir Robert ffolkes was not able to report on Nepal and the SCF Director there had sent no recent information about refugees.

The Secretary agreed to write to Dharamsala for a report on the recent situation.

c) Elderly Tibetans Appeal from Mrs. Taring

Contributions had been sent to this scheme from Ockenden, Help the Aged, Miriam Deans Refugees Trust Fund and the Tibet Society.

Mrs. Taring's particular interest was a project in Dehra Dun which tried to help old people of the nomadic families. Many of the original group of refugees who came out of Tibet in the late 1950s were now becoming elderly and in need of help. The problem was now growing and could involve thousands of refugees.

d) Appeal from UNHCR for Tibetan Refugees suffering from Tuberculosis

Details of this had been circulated. The scheme, which had been helped by the UNHCR, for the early detection and treatment of tuberculosis was to close this year, but there was need for continuation for another year at a cost of some £12,500.

It was not possible for the UNHCR to continue funding this, and it was suggested that the voluntary agencies could cover the needs.

The Tibet Society and Ockenden were considering the matter; Wings of Friendship had already allocated £50 as an initial contribution; the British Red Cross hoped to help but was awaiting further information from the International Red Cross and it was possible that Oxfam might help.

The Secretary undertook to find out how much had already been covered.

Agencies were asked to send their contributions direct to the Central Relief Committee in India.

Any Other Business

a) UNHCR's Executive Committee, Geneva, October 1976

The Government brief for the UK Government delegate to this meeting would be prepared by Mr. Patrick Morgan, UN Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office who, with Mr. Ifor Davies MP, the UK delegate, would be at the meeting of the Standing Conference on 21 September when points to be raised by the voluntary agencies would be considered.

After discussion, it was agreed to suggest, from the Asia Committee, that the following point should be taken up: -

The attention of Governments should be drawn to the seriousness of the refugee situation in Thailand and they should be urged to help Thailand financially in settling refugees within its borders, to explore resettlement possibilities elsewhere and/or to help other Asian countries financially or in other ways to enable them to resettle Indo-Chinese refugees in their territories.

Organisations were asked to send further suggestions for points to be raised to the Secretary before 21 September.

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