TNAG-0891-FCO40-1101-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 23

CONFIDEN MAL

RESETTLEMENT.

IV. GIVEN, HOWEVER, THE CONSTRAINTS, BOTH IN TERMS OF THE OVER-ALL RESETTLEMENT NUMBERS AVAILABLE FOR HONG KONG AND THE

TIME IT WILL TAKE TO RESETTLE THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, UNHCR

WOULD WELCOME THE GOVERNMENT'S PERMISSION FOR THE REFUGEES TO

WORK.

V. ON ITS SIDE, UNHCR WILL MAKE AN ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ALLOCATION TOWARDS ACCOMMODATION AND WILL ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR ONE-TIME CARE

AND MAINTENANCE GRANTS. UNHCR IS ALSO PREPARED TO APPROACH THE

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY FOR A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION OF

FOOD AID,

VI. UNHCR IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER PROPOSALS FROM THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF PERMANENT

HOUSING FOR REFUGEES WHO CAN BE LOCALLY SETTLED IN HONG KONG.

VII. IT WOULD BE HOPED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON ITS

SIDE, WOULD HELP THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SITES, SUCH AS ACCOMMODATION AS FEASIBLE, AND PROVIDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

AND FUNDS FOR THE RUNNING OF THE REFUGEE SITES.

4. THE GOVERNOR WELCOMED THE FIRST THREE OF THESE POINTS AND

OBTAINED CLARIFICATION THAT THEY APPLIED TO ALL BOAT REFUGEES

FROM VIETNAM.

5. ON POINT 11 THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE

THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO TREBLE THE UNHCR STAFF DEVOTED

TO PROCESSING. HARTLING REPLIED THAT THERE WERE NOW THREE

PROFESSIONALS, TEN LOCALS, AND FIVE LOCAL INTERVIEWING STAFF IN

HONG KONG: BUT HIS STAFFING WAS SUJECT TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.£

6. ON POINT IV THE GOVERNOR AGREED THAT WHEREVER FEASIBLE REFUGEES

SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH THE IMPORTANT PROVISO THAT PERMISSION

MIGHT HAVE TO BE WITHDRAWN IF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS WORSENED.

7 ON POINT V HE EXPLAINED THAT THE REAL COST OF ACCOMMODATION WAS

VERY HIGH IF ONE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT LAND VALUES, BUT CAPITAL

EXPENDITURE ON ACCOMMODATION WAS A LESSER PRIORITY AMONG THE

CONTRIBUTIONS EXPECTED FROM UNHCR. ON THE OTHER HAND. HONG KONG

PEOPLE EXPECTED UNHCR TO UNDERTAKE CARE AND MAINTENANCE ON A

CONTINUING BASIS. (HE REFRAINED FROM MAKING THE POINT THAT THIS

RESPONSIBILITY WOULD GIVE UNHCR AN INCENTIVE TO RESETTLE REFUGEES QUICKLY).

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CONFIDENTAL.

18. HARTLING

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