GRS 300
UNCLASSIFIED
(444)
нкк243/2
"KEQEIVED IN REGISTRY
06 DEC1985
DESK OFFICUL
INDEX
TOP COPY
PA
ction Taken
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 2743
TO PRIORITY FCO
OF 051OOOZ DECEMBER 85
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
INFO PRIORITY HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO GENEVA, HKGO NEW YORK
INFO PRIORITY HKGO WASHINGTON
34.
FOR: LEEKS
FROM: WOODHOUSE
YOUR TELNO 1884: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: CALL ON FCO BY KEVIN LYONETTE
WE ARE EXPERIENCING THE UNHCR FINANCIAL CUT-BACKS WHICH HAVE
RESULTED FROM ITS BUDGET OVERSPENDING. IN GENEVA AT EXCOM THERE WAS
MUCH TALK OF THE NEED FOR RESTRAINT AND MANY OF THE DONOR COUNTRIES
TALKED OF MORE COST EFFECTIVENESS.
2. WE ARE CONTINUING TO NEGOTIATE ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND HAVE
CLOSED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US SIGNIFICANTLY. WE HOPE TO RESOLVE
ANY OUTSTANDING DIFFERENCES.
3. WE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN ALL OF THE CENTRES, BUT PARTICULARLY IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN PRESSED BY THE UNHCR TO IMPROVE FACILITIES AND WE HAVE WILLINGLY DONE OUR BEST TO COMPLY. EXTRA CLASSROOMS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AT BOWRING AND CHI MA
WAN. THE REFUGEE POPULATION IN CAPE COLLINSON HAS BEEN REDUCED TO
PROVIDE MORE TEACHING SPACE. THE UNHCR HAD AGREED TO FUND THE
EXPANDED AND CO-ORDINATED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMME IN THE CLOSED CENTRES. WE AND, TO A LARGER EXTENT, THE VOLAGS WERE AMAZED WHEN WE WERE INFORMED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT A SPECIAL APPEAL TO
GENEVA FOR HKD2 MILLION WAS BEING SOUGHT TO FUND THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
4. AT THEIR REQUEST, WE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE USCG. THE USCG ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND, WE UNDERSTAND, ASKED FOR PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED IN GENEVA. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD (YESTERDAY)
THAT THE FUNDS WILL (WILL) BE AVAILABLE. WE ARE SEEKING CONFIRMATION
IN WRITING.
5. OUR CONCERN, THEREFORE, IS FOR THE UNHCR NOT (NOT) TO EMBARK
UPON PPOGRAMMES INVOLVING US AND THE VOLAGS WITHOUT ADEQUATE
GUARANTEES THAT FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE.
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