TNAG-1421-FCO40-1904-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 200

UNITED NATIONS

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Office of the Representative for the United Kingdom

Telegrams: HICOMREF LONDON Telex: 8951252 HCRLON G Telephone: 01 222 3065/6

Reference:

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(306)

11 UUT 1985

NATIONS UNIES

HAUT COMMISSARIAT POUR LES RÉFUGIÉS

Bureau du Délégué pour le Royaume-Uni

36 Westminster Palace Gardens

Artillery Row

LONDON SW1P 1RR

Dear

Tony

8 October 1985

I should like to refer to Mr Wells's letter dated 4 October 1985, in which he indicates various steps to be taken in the context of family reunion from South East Asia.

I can only pledge that this office, together with our Branch Offices in Hong Kong, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta, will be fully co-operative. I have informed them of the details of the White Paper and have asked particularly the offices other than Hong Kong to provide us with detailed information on some 60 cases with family links in the UK. As Mr Wells hints, quite correctly, not all of those listed will actually come, some of them might have found another country of resettlement in the meantime, some of them may not be welcomed by their relatives in the UK and some of them may decide to stay where they are, particularly those in open camps in Hong Kong if they are currently employed. UNHCR is not in a position, and neither I am sure is this HMG's wish, that refugees be transported to this country against their wish.

In the light of these considerations I anticipate that the total number of cases to be resettled may well be below the figure announced. I mention this to you because I am afraid that UNHCR is at present in a very serious financial situation and would, therefore, greatly welcome it if the UK could provide the funding for the transport of these refugees (some $600 per person) to UNHCR so that we can proceed with the necessary travel arrangements. This would be an essential tool for speeding up matters from our side, as UNHCR's resettlement project has at present been stopped due to lack of funding. I should also like to mention that all other resettlement countries, except France, pay for the transport costs themselves.

I will send a copy of this letter to Mrs Penny Lee so as to receive her advice on this matter.

In the light of the aforesaid (even more limited numbers finally coming to this country) the question would arise as to whether HMG may not wish to make a more precise announcement on the acceptance of non-link long stayers, particularly unaccompanied minors. Even more so as the Save

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