TNAG-0891-FCO40-1101-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 22

PS 1300

NFIDENTIAL

CONFIDEN MAL

HKK243|| PA

1189

FM UKMIS GENEVA 25183OZ JUN 79

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

T

TELEGRAM NUMBER 230 CF 25 JUNE 1979

PESK U

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, UKMIS NEW YORK, INFO SAVING KUALA LUMPUR, JAKARTA, BANGKOK, HANOI.

GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S DISCUSSIONS WITH UNHCR

seeling

(1290

1. AT HIS MEETING TODAY WITH HARTLING, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG

CONCLUDED AN AGREEMENT ON INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR COST SHARING

AND ADMINISTRATION PENDING THE RESULTS OF THE PROPOSED UN

CONFERENCE. TEXT IS IN MIFT. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT AT A

REASONABLE INTERVAL AFTER THE CONFERENCE THERE SHOULD BE

FURTHER CONSULTATIONS TO REACH AGREEMENT ON LONG TERM ARRANGEMENTS.

2. THE GOVERNOR FORMALLY REQUESTED AGREEMENT ON THE PRINCIPLE

THAT UNHCR SHOULD PAY ALL THE COSTS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

IN HONG KONG, IF THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE (AND HE FULLY RECOGNISED

THE BUDGETARY LIMITS IMPOSED BY GOVERNMENTS' CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNHCR) HE REQUESTED THAT AS THE FIRST PRIORITY, THE UNHCR SHOULD MEET AS HIGH A PROPORTION AS POSSIBLE OF THE COSTS OF CARE

AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL SUCH REFUGEES, HE EXPLAINED THAT

UNHCR EXPENDITURE ON CARE AND MAINTENANCE HAD A VITAL SYMBOLIC

SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG PUBLIC OPINION. CAPITAL

EXPENDITURE (IE ON ACCOMMODATION) WAS LESS IMPORTANT AND WAS EASIER FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ARRANGE ITSELF. INDEED, BUILDING WAS ALREADY GOING AHEAD AND SHOULD PROVIDE FOR 70,000 PLACES BY THE END OF JULY.

3. THE UNHCR HAD ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED A WORKING PAPER TO THE GOVERNOR OVER THE WEEKEND (COPIES BY BAG) WHICH PROPOSED ONCE

FOR ALL EXPENDITURE OF US DOLLARS 9 MILLION FOR THE PERIOD

1 MARCH TO 31 DECEMBER 1979. THE PAPER CONCLUDED AS FOLLOWS:-

1. UNHCR WILL ARRANGE THE REGISTRATION FOR POSSIBLE RESETTLEMENT

OF ALL VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.

11. TO ENSURE THIS UNHCR IS STRENGTHENING ITS INTERNATIONAL

AND LOCAL STAFF IN HONG KONG.

111. UNHCR WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SUBMIT RESETTLEMENT REGISTRATION FORMS TO THE CONSULAR MISSIONS OF COUNTRIES OF

CONFIDENHAL

/RESETTLEMENT