TNAG-1427-FCO40-1910-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1986 — Page 81

TG LAH S

pa.

243/5

CALL ON MR LEVER BY KEVIN LYONETTE, UNHCR:

TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER 1985

POINTS TO MAKE

VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG MKK 243,

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

10 DEC1985

DESY OF

INDEX

38

1.

and

Educational and Training Facilities

Hong Kong Government are keen to continue improving educational

training facilities

in the closed camps, in order to enhance

refugees' resettlement prospects.

on UNHCR funds for this.

available.

As

you know they depend heavily

Hope funds will continue to be made

I f these improvements are to be maintained, it is

UNHCR financial difficulties adequate

essential that despite any

funds are

(Background

committed to the project from the start.

UNHCR and

The Hong Kong Government are under pressure from

others (eg Home Affairs Select Committee (SCORRI) Report) to improve

these facilities in the camps

order to improve resettlement

in

prospects. They have agreed to do so, and UNHCR has agreed to pay.

Improvements under way:

have the money

"up

now signs emerging that UNHCR did not

front", and have launched a special £200,000

appeal for these improvements.

HKG and voluntary agencies (who will

operate improved facilities) equally dismayed by this about-turn 1.)

2.

RASRO Transit Centre

centre

Understand UNHCR are keen that Hong Kong should provide transit

for refugees who have been rescued under RASRO but who have

not been resettled within standard 90 days period.

Hong Kong

Government are still considering this. They have pointed out that

if they were to agree to it, it would have to be funded by UNCHR.

Background

i)

RASRO (Rescue at Sea Resettlement Offers) is a pooling

arrangement devised by UNHCR to facilita te the resettlement of

refugees rescued at sea.

been in operation since May.

but Hong Kong (as a place of first asylum

The UK

is

a member

It has been