TNAG-0892-FCO40-1102-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 18

Mr Williamson, HK & GD

CONFIDENTIAL

12550

Reference.....

HKK 243/1

POSSIBLE APPLICATION FOR FOOD AID BY HONG KONG TO WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP)

по

п?

af 25 June

1. In paragraph 8 of the UK Mission Geneva telno (attached for ease of reference), Sir James Murray said he hoped that early consideration could be given as to the feasibility of an application to the WFP for food aid costs for refugees in Hong

Kong. We spoke and you asked me to look into the matter. sex12550

2. I have spoken to ODA and it appears that this is not, in fact,

a question of membership or associate membership of the WFP. The UK's membership, in any case, covers the dependent territories adequately. ODA confirm that it is entirely feasible for emergency food aid from the WFP to be given to a dependent territory: St Vincent got some recently following an earthquake on the island.

3. In this case, the procedure to be followed would be for an application to be made by Hong Kong: this would be forwarded by the UK to the WFP. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (WFP comes under the umbrella of the FAO), in consult- ation with the WFP, would then decide whether such food aid could be given.

I hope the above information proves of some use to you. If you require anything more I should be glad to help.

4.

Geraldine 7 Tucker этила

2 July 1979

CC: Mr Allen

UND (B)

ODA

Mrs G Tucker

United Nations Department K 149

233 5032

CODE 18-77

CONFIDENTIAL