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 II 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.C
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THAT WHEREVER FEASIBLE REFUGEES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH THE IMPORTANT PROVISO THAT PERMISSION MIGHT HAVE TO BE WITHDRAWN IF EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS WORSENED.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 ACCOMMOD
DATION 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).
8. HARTLING SAID THAT IN MOST COUNTRIES OF ASYLUM, INCLUDING MALAYSIA, UNHCR EXPECTED GOVERNMENTS TO APPLY TO THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP) FOR FOOD COSTS. HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE IN HONG KONG 'S CASE BECAUSE THE WFP WOULD CONSIDER THE LATTER A DEPENDENT TERRITORY OF A DEVELOPED COUNTRY
AND THEREFORE INELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT IN MANY CONTEXTS, SUCH AS TRADE PREFERENCES, HONG KONG WAS CONSIDERED PART OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD. I HOPE EARLY CONSIDERATION CAN BE GIVEN AS TO THE FEASIBILITY OF AN APPLICATION TO THE WFP AND ALSO OF THE UNHCR'S PROPOSAL OF RECOURSE TO THE EEC'S FOOD AID PROGRAMME.
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9. ON UNHCR'S POINT VI ABOUT HELP FOR PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION IN RETURN FOR HONG KONG ACCEPTING MORE LOCAL RESETTLEMENT, THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE WOULD BE RESENTMENT OF ANY APPARENT JUMPING OF
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