TNAG-1427-FCO40-1910-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1986 — Page 79

GRS 300

UNCLASSIFIED

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2743

OF 051OOOZ DECEMBER 85

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INFO PRIORITY UKMIS GENEVA, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

INFO PRIORITY HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO GENEVA, HKGO NEW YORK

INFO PRIORITY HKGO WASHINGTON

FOR: LEEKS

FROM: WOODHOUSE

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RECEIVEL REGISTRY

10 DEC:985

3121

DESAMERICKA

#GISTRY

INDEX

PA

bution Taken

YOUR TELNO 1884: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: CALL ON FCO BY KEVIN LYONETTE

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not-unknown

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

UNHR Fadic/ 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

PRESSUPE 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 PROGRAMMES INVOLVING US AND THE VOLAGS WITHOUT ADEQUATE

GUARANTEES THAT FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE.

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