TNAG-1531-FCO40-2095-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1987 — Page 154

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Inputs by the UK (and Hong Kong)

include

UK and Hong Kong contributions (inputs) may

trated by:

9.

(i) expenditure on refugee relief programmes in Thailand for July

1979-July 1986 (£12.5m);

(ii) expenditure on resettlement of 20,000 refugees in UK for

1979-1984 (£22.6m) and total costs to Hong Kong of displaced Indo-Chinese for 1979-1986, including the costs of temporary accommodation and integration of 14,500 (£384.5m);

(At

(iii) political support: staffing and related costs in particular in FCO Diplomatic Wing and ODA and British Embassy, Bangkok. least £100,000 per annum at current costs).

ASSUMPTIONS OF UK POLICY

10.

These are:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

a UK contribution is consistent with its obligations to assist refugees worldwide under the terms of its ratification of the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of refugees and the 1967 Protocol;

helping to solve the refugee problem will serve the UK ultimate objective of a safe, stable and prosperous South-East Asia, consistent with UK interests; conversely a failure to help by the UK and other Western countries would have led to an unacceptable situation in human and security terms;

an appropriate UK contribution will favourably influence SE Asian and donor governments; conversely a failure to contribute risks adverse consequences;

a UK contribution will encourage other governments, notably those of Thailand and other countries of first asylum, to assist in solving or relieving the Indo-China refugee problem; international efforts coordinated by UNBRO and UNHCR provide the most effective and efficient means of providing relief to the refugees.

SEAAAU

RESTRICTED

i.