CONFIDENTIAL
HK
1989
13.
June £5M pledge for regional resettlement
centre.
- £45.M for emergency accommodation
up to £5M Treasury agreement to spend up
to this on non voluntary repatriation (this
is not common public knowledge. Only £1.3M
expected to be reserved for 1989/90)
They
HKG have recently advised that the £4.5M for emergency accomodation is insufficient and further funds will be required to
meet additional (security) works. These amount to about £5M.
have also indicated that to develop Tai A Chau fully to accommodate
up to 20,000 VBPS will cost about £21M. They are looking to HMG to meet these capital costs. We consider that the case is very
sketchy and have asked for further details. We will clearly need to go to the Treasury for such funds.
Finance: HKG Problems
14. HKG by the end of this financial year will have contributed more than HK$ 800 million in capital and $1,500 million in recurrent
expenditure in the 10 years since the problem began. The Finance
Committee of the Legislative Council, which votes the funds, has
become more and more vocal in its criticism of the current policy of
first asylum (which they consider has been imposed on Hong Kong by
HMG). The position is such that the Governor considers that there is no prospect of persuading the Finance Committee to come up with any further funds, above those already voted, for VBPs this year. He points out that to put such a request to the Finance Committee
would be to risk serious political and constitutional problems.
This has an impact in two areas: capital works and care and
maintenance, the latter which should be taken care of by the UNHCR.
15. On capital works, HKG will need additional funds to provide
sufficient accommodation for VBPs already in Hong Kong and likely
to arrive before the end of the year about £5M.
16.
On care and maintenance, the UNHCR is very strapped for cash.
They are already behind in reimbursing HKG for expenses incurred.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.