TNAG-0792-FCO40-996-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1978 — Page 77

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Reference

Mr Thompson HK & GD

REFUGEES IN HONG KONG: THE MACAU FACILITY

1. At ou informal meeting which I attended yesterday with an official from the Home Office and representatives of British voluntary organisations concerned with the reception of refugees in the UK, Miss Joyce Pearce of the Ockenden Venture suggested that her organisation might be able to help over increasing the facilities available for refugees (from Hong Kong) in Macau. She suggested that, apart from receiving Indo-Chinese "boat refugees" into the UK (a matter we will be pursuing separately with the Home Office), members of her organisation could, subject to some financial help being made available, undertake a project in Macau which would be complementary to the work of UNHCR. She was not sure whether Portuguese approval would first be needed. Ockenden already have experience in Macau and are aware of the potential there for receiving more refugees.

2. Given the recent pressures put on UNHCR to extend the Macau facility, I said I thought Miss Pearce's suggestion a very helpful one which I was sure would be welcome to the Hong Kong authorities as well as to the FCO. I asked that, rather than leave it to me to pursue this initiative within the Office, it might be best if Miss Pearce put the proposition in a letter to an FCO Minister, setting out exactly what kind of project was envisaged.

3. I think this is a matter which might fall to your department to deal with. I have no idea how much financial help the Ockenden Venture would require to undertake such a project but am sure that, if FCO Ministers approve, a very good case would be put to the ODM for providing assistance from development aid funds: ODM have already given British voluntary agencies £180,000 this year for their work among refugees in Thailand and I see no reason why funds could not be made available for a similar project in Macau, especially given the interest we have in alleviating Hong Kong's burden in respect of "boat refugees".

20 September, 1978

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UN Department

Dr

I have written to front in thing Kang, UND agreed the draft.

HKK 243/1

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