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4. Mr Hartling is now pressing, through the UNHCR's London
representative, for an advance commitment that "if a conference
arrives at an agreed plan for the solution of the problem, Britain
will play its role in the application of the plan" (Mr Murray's
minute of 8 June). Any such commitment would clearly involve an additional financial contribution to UNHCR and/or a further
quota of resettlement places. Mr Blaker will be pressed for some
response when he sees Mr Hartling. Our credibility as promoters
of the idea of a conference may be undermined if we cannot offer
at least a general commitment on places. Mr Cortazzi has minuted
to the ODA seeking agreement to a further contribution of £1.25m
to UNHCR funds, which would maintain our share of the budget at
8.5%.
Hong Kong
Instead,
5. The UNHCR. have so far accepted responsibility for fewer than
30% of the 51,000 refugees now awaiting resettlement in Hong Kong,
despite a written undertaking last September to take over the
care and maintenance of all arrivals. It is clear from recent
telegrams that they are now trying to wriggle out of this commitment
on the grounds that they lack the resources to fulfil it.
they are relying on the Hong Kong Government to do their job for
them. The Governor of Hong Kong will be going to Geneva on 25 June
and the UNHCR have undertaken to prepare new proposals for discussion
with him then. On the assumption that Mr Blaker goes to Geneva
before Sir M MacLehose, it would be helpful if the Minister of
State could express the hope that a satisfactory solution will be
worked cut during the Governor's visit, and underline the
CONFIDENTIAL
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