TNAG-0885-FCO40-1095-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 133

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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FM UKMIS GENEVA 141655Z MAY 79

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 144 OF 14/5/79

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG WASHINGTON

HK K 243/1

RECEIVED IM REGGAEY

15 MAY 1979

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

مام

PA

716.5

TAY

Action Teven

662

SAVING INFO LISBON UKMIS NEW YORK

UNHCR STAFFING IN HONG KONG AND MACAU

see To

1. AS AGREED IN TODAY'S TELECON SNOXELL / MORGAN, HEAD OF CHANCERY RAISED WITH MOUSSALI, UNHCR DIRECTOR OF PROTECTION, THE STATIONING OF A UNHCR OFFICIAL IN MACAU AS PROPOSED IN WILSON'S LETTER CR2/4821/75 OF 1 MAY TO SIMPSON-ORLEBAR. MOUSSALI SAID THAT THIS REQUEST WOULD BE BORNE IN MIND. HE QUESTIONNED THE REPORTED ASSERTION OF THE MACAU UNDER-SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS THAT ONLY SOME

2,630 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM COULD BA ACCOMMODATED IN MACAU,

2. HEAD OF CHANCERY AGAIN URGED UNHCR TO INCREASE STAFF IN HONG

KONG ITSELF. IN REPLY IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT UN BODIES SUCH AS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY QUESTIONS (ACABG) SCRUTINISED CAREFULLY PROPOSALS FOR EXTRA STAFF EVEN WHEN FINANCED OUTSIDE THE UN REGULAR BUDGET. MOREOVER, THE UN'S CURRENT PREOCCUPATION WITH ZERO REAL GROWTH HAS MEANT THAT THE SECRETARY GENERAL HAS POSTPONED THE TRANSFER TO THE REGULAR BUDGET OF 11 OF THE 23 POSTS PROVISIONALLY AGREED FOR 1978/79. ALTHOUGH UK OFFICIALS IN NEW YORK SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND UNHCR'S NEEDS OTHER DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING THE US, WERE RAISING DIFFICULTIES ABOUT TRANSFERRING POSTS TO THE REGULAR BUDGET.

3. HOWEVER, MOUSSALI SAID THAT THE DECISION WHETHER TO REINFORCE STAFF IN THE AREA WOULD DEPEND GREATLY ON WHAT THE US REFUGEE COORDINATOR CLARK, SAYS TO HARTLING DURING HIS VISIT HERE LATER THIS MONTH. UNHCR WERE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAD LANDED IN CHINA UNTIL THEY COULD GET ASSURANCES FROM CLARK HIMSELF

THAT THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE US. WE POINTED OUT THAT THESE PEOPLE MIGHT BE ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

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