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centres, I believe it would be right, and would make a most
favourable political impact in the territory, if we were to make a more substantial contribution from this year's refugee programme.
Such a contribution would be primarily directed towards UNHCR
operations in Hong Kong itself. But it would also be available to
be used if a programme involving reintegration assistance in Vietnam
got under way in the current financial period.
10.
It
It is becoming increasingly clear that it will still take a
little time before we can put forward a formal bid to the ODA for a contribution from the refugee programme. We want to time our contribution to make the maximum impact,, both in Hong Kong and on other donor governments. The situation is still evolving. We know for example that the UNHCR propose to make a formal appeal for contributions from governments to the running of the new open camp in Hong Kong, but we do not know what sum they will be seeking.
is thus not yet possible to put a bid for a particular sum in the
context of the totals sought and the likely contributions from other
governments. But I have expressed my own view, in initial
dicussions with ODA officials, that a contribution of less than £1
million would not make the necessary political impact in Hong Kong: indeed it would risk giving to criticism rather than gratitude, viewed against the Hong Kong Government's expenditure on boat people
in the current financial year of an estimated £47 million.
Minute to the Prime Minister
10. Given these complications I suggest that it would be best to
limit the scope of the proposition which is put to the Prime
Minister. We need to seek her agreement to the principle that
limited reintegration assistance might be made available through
UNHCR in Vietnam. The question of a possible increased contribution
to UNHCR activities in Hong Kong is in line with existing policy and raises no new questions of principle.
11. I suggest therefore that the draft minute to the Prime Minister
need only be expanded a little so as to describe the general order
of magnitude of a possible UNHCR repatriation programme in Vietnam
and avoid giving the impression of a "blank cheque". I submit a
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