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FM MANILA 2007102 SEP 79
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 391 OF 20 SEPTEMBER
INDEX
INFO HONG KONG, JAKARTA, BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE AND
UMIS GENEVA.
En
see (175
1. BEERMAN, A SENIOR CONSULTANT OF UNHCR WHO IS LEADING THE TEAM CURRENTLY DISCUSSING THE PROPOSED 50,009 CAPACITY RPC WITH THE FHILIPPINE AUTHORITIES, CALLED ON ME TODAY AT HIS REQUEST. HE SAID THE UNHCR AND THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS, WHO ARE MASTER- MINDING THE OPERATION, WERE CONSIDERING INVITING AMBASSADORS OF
INTERESTED COUNTRIES TO A MEETING ON 26 SEPTEMBER. WHEN I MENTIONED OUR STANCE OVER FINANCING THE RPC (YOUR TELNO 202 OF 6 SEPTEMBER) HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NOT BE A POTENTIAL DONORS MEETING
AND WAS SIMPLY INTENDED TO APPRISE US OF THE SITUATION. HE ENVISAGES INVITING THE USA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN, FRANCE, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS IN ADDITION TO THE ASEAN COUNTRIES, THE MINISTER OF STATE'S VISIT WILL PREVENT ME FROM ATTENDING BUT UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION I WILL BE REPRESENTED BY HEAD OF CHANCERY. 2. BEERMAN SAID THERE WAS STILL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE RPC, THE JAPANESE WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO COUGH UP HALF THE COST AS THEY HAD DONE FOR GALANG. THE PHILIPPINES ESTIMATES OF THE COST WERE MUCH TOO HIGH AND HE WAS WHITTLING THEM - DOWN.
NY TELNO 378 OF 7 SEPTEMBER: REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTRES.
3. I REMINDED HIM OF OUR HONG KONG INTERESTS. HE SAID THIS WAS WELL UNDERSTOOD BUT HE HAD NOT DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE PHILIPPINE
AUTHORITIES,
4. WE WILL REPORT IN DETAIL AFTER THE MEETING, IF IT COMES OFF. I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE MAY EVENTUALLY BE PUT UNDER SOME PRESSURE TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL AND SPECIFIC FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE
RPC IF WE ARE TO ENSURE THE ELIGIBILITY OF HONG KONG REFUGEES.
MEANWHILE WE WILL OF COURSE MAINTAIN OUR PRESENT POSITION.
1713
BENTLEY
FILES SEAD
FED
HK & GD
MR MURRAY
UND HAED
LORD NG LENNOX
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