CONFIDENTIAL
IN SUM, REFUGEES ARE MORE GENEROUSLY PROVIDED FOR THAN ARE HONG KONG RESIDENTS. THE SUGGESTION THAT REFUGEES MIGHT NOT AL
BE ABLE TO WORK MUST BE VIEWED AGAINST THIS FACT.
5. IF UNHCR DEVISED A SCHEME BY WHICH REFUGEES WHO WERE WORKING
PAID FOR THEIR BOARD AND LODGING THIS WOULD NOT ONLY EASE UNHCR'S FINANCIAL BURDEN BUT WOULD ALSO COUNTER PUBLIC CRITICISM THAT THE PROVISION OF FREE SERVICES FOR REFUGEES PUTS THEM AS PROSPECTIVE WORKERS IN A PRIVILEGED POSITION, AT TIMES OF FULL EMPLOYMENT WE CAN PROBABLY CONTAIN THIS CRITICISM ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT IS A MATTER FOR UNHCR, BUT WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION DETERIORATES
AS IT MUST DO SOMETIME) TO HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES IN EMPLOYMENT AND BEING PROVIDED WITH FREE BOARD AND LODGING WOULD PRODUCE A POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION.
6. THIS PROBLEM UNDERLINES OUR DIFFICULTIES IN COPING WITH REFUGEES FOR RELATIVELY LONG PERIODS IN A LARGELY URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND IN SO CROWDED A PLACE AS HONG KONG. THE SITUATION CALLS FOR DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS TO THOSE APPLIED IN LESS CROWDED PLACES. EVEN IF UNHCR CAN DEVISE WORKABLE SCHEMES TO ENSURE THAT THOSE IN THEIR CARE WHO WORK CONTRIBUTE AT APPROPRIATE RATES FOR THEIR BOARD AND LODGING WE MAY STILL HAVE TO RESERVE OUR POSITION THAT SUCH REFUGEES ARE LANDED HERE CONDITIONALLY AND TEMPORARILY IN TRANSIT. IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS MAY
HAVE TO BE THAT THEY DO NOT WORK,
FCO PSE PASS SAVING TO UKMIS NEW YORK
MACLEHOSE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED
FILES
IK & GD
UND
SEAD
FED
SAD
EID (E)
PUSD
OID IPD
NEWS D MVD
PS PS/LPS PS/MR HURD PS/MR BLAKER PS/PUS
SIR A DUFF
SIR A PARSONS MR CORTAZZI MR LEAHY MR MURRAY
CONFIDENTIAL
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
MR BURLEIGH.
HOME OFFICE
QUEEN ANNE'S GATE
MR BIRT
HOME OFFICE-
LUNAR HOUSE
CROYDON
LONDON
Ma V HOGEL FACD ODM
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