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GLENARTHUR. IT WOULD PUT THE ONUS ON UNHCR TO ARGUE THEIR POINTS AND
PROVIDE HMG WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS UNHCR TO BE MORE ACTIVE WITH THE VIETNAMESE ON REPATRIATION. WE CANNOT, HOWEVER, EXPECT EARLY PROGRESS ON THIS. HOCKE BELIEVES THAT HE HAS PRESSED THE VIETNAM GOVERNMENT AS FAR AS HE CAN DURING THE RECENT ODP MEETINGS IN GENEVA AND HAS CONSIDERABLE RESERVATIONS ABOUT USING MORE OF HIS CREDIT AT THIS STAGE WITH THE VIETNAMESE. APART FROM THE SMALL-SCALE AID FOR POSSIBLE RETURNEES, HE HAS LITTLE TO OFFER VIETNAMESE TO SECURE ANY EARLY CHANGE IN POLICY.
5 I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT HONG KONG'S REQUEST THAT UNHCR SHOULD MEET MORE OF THE COSTS ARISING FROM THE BOAT-PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. FUNDS FOR THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY EXCOM, NOT UNHCR. ANY DEMAND FOR SUCH FUNDING AT THIS STAGE COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR EXCOM PARTNERS SUCH AS AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG'S PREDICAMENT AND CHANGE IN POLICY, AS WELL AS FOR JAPAN (WHO HAS A SPECIAL CONCERN TO KEEP UNHCR EXPENDITURE UNDER TIGHT CONTROL).
SANKEY
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
40
LIMITED
HKD
SEAD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
40
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
MR GILLMORE
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
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