TNAG-1910-FCO40-2714-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 124

CONFIDENTIAL

051271

MDHIAN 0982

II) WE ESTIMATE THAT UNHCR'S SHARE OF THE EXPENDITURE FOR 1989 TO DATE AMOUNTS TO ABOUT HK DOLLARS 30 MILLION. IF UNHCR WERE ABLE TO CONCLUDE AN AGREEMENT WITH HKG AND MAKE THIS PAYMENT QUICKLY IT WOULD EASE OUR EXPENDITURE PROBLEMS CONSIDERABLY.

III) UNHCR'S NORMAL PROCEDURE ELSEWHERE IS APPARENTLY TO MAKE THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS CARE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS IN ADVANCE. HONG KONG SEEMS TO BE AN EXCEPTION. IN VIEW OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN COVERING OUR EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, WE HOPE UNHCR COULD CONSIDER PAYING THE BALANCE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION FOR 1989 IN ADVANCE. THE ACCOUNTS WOULD OF COURSE BE

RECONCILED AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

4. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT IF UNHCR ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCEDE TO THESE REQUESTS WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHALL AGAIN HAVE TO ASK HMG TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. WE REALISE THAT THIS WILL CAUSE YOU CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY, PARTICULARLY AS OUR REQUIREMENT IS FOR RECURRENT RATHER THAN CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. ONE POSSIBILITY MIGHT BE TO COVER SUCH ASSISTANCE WITH A COUNTERBALANCING ADJUSTMENT TO THE UK ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION TO UNHCR. WE WILL RECONSIDER THE POSITION ONCE WE KNOW

UNHCR'S RESPONSE TO OUR PROPOSALS IN PARA 3 ABOVE.

WILSON

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

108

DISTRIBUTION

114

.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

PUSD

ECD (E)

FED

NAD

NEWS

INFO D

RMD

PS

I

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR PATTEN ODA

PS MR EGGAR

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

MR MCLAREN

PAGE

2

CONFIDENTIAL