TNAG-1181-FCO40-1483-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 12

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The UNHCR has undertaken to meet the basic care and maintenance costs of all refugees in Hong Kong, subject to the "refugees being accommodated whenever possible in open camps where they can be permitted and assisted to find employment". To date, the UNHCR has spent about $108 million for the care and maintenance of refugees here while the h Hong Kong Government has spent about $94 million.

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The UNHCR has been approached to obtain its reaction to closed camps. Its initial reaction is favourable and the Charge de Mission has indicated that she is prepared to recommend to her headquarters "to share costs of care and maintenance with the Hong Kong authorities", subject to certain conditions. These conditions are mainly concerned with the UNHCR and authorities of resettlement countries having full access to the refugees for resettlement purposes and the need to have the closed camp policy reviewed periodically to assess its effect: It is, therefore, proposed to continue negotiation with the UNHCR with a view to reaching an early agreement. It is difficult to estimate at this stage the level of contribution the UNHCR would be prepared to make towards the care and maintenance of refugees held in closed camps, but it is proposed that the UNHCR should be asked at least to meet the costs of such items as food, medical supplies, blankets and mats, eating utensils, relief items and electricity, fuel and water, which are the items for which UNHCR is currently paying.

Staff and Financial Implications

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The staff and financial resources required to implement the closed camp policy initially for the camps listed in paragraph 18 are as follows

(a) Chi Ma Wan

(i) Staff in addition to the present

custodial and administrative staff, approximately 180 additional staff are required. The annual cost is roughly $19 million;

(ii) Other Recurrent the annual cost of

running the camp including food, water electricity, fuel, transport, main- tenance of building, relief items, etc. is estimated roughly at $12.7 million. Of this amount it is estimated that $11.5 million may be reimbursed by UNHCR based on existing arrangements for cost sharing;

(iii) Capital - the cost of equipment and improvement and alteration works is estimated to amount to $6.3 million;

G.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL