TNAG-1910-FCO40-2714-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 149

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HKB 243/11

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FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1842

OF 05110OZ JUNE 89

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

53

55

156264 MDHIAN 7638

TOP COPY Q DIST 7

UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 304 : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE

THIS IS A VERY DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE FROM UNHCR WHICH SEEMS TO

TAKE NO ACCOUNT OF THE VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION IN HONG KONG. WE

HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE UNHCR WITHDRAWING SUPPORT FOR THOSE

REFUGEES WHO ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR PREPARING FOOD. IN PRACTICE THIS MEANS THE 5000 REFUGEES WHO WILL MOVE INTO THE PILLAR POINT CAMP BETWEEN MID-JUNE AND AUGUST WHERE INDIVIDUAL COOKING FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE

INDIVIDUAL COOKING FACILITIES AT THE OTHER CAMPS AND IN OUR VIEW UNHCR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROVISION OF FOOD MUST THEREFORE CONTINUE.

2 =

THERE IS OF COURSE MEANS PRESSURE ON UNHCR'S BUDGET. SOME OF THIS PRESSURE WILL BE RELIEVED AS THE REFUGEE POPULATION FALLS THROUGH RESETTLEMENT (PERHAPS 4,000 THIS YEAR) AND AS UP TO 5000 REFUGEES MOVE TO PILLAR POINT. THIS SHOULD ENABLE UNHCR TO CUT ITS FOOD RELIEF COMMITMENT VERY SIGNIFICANTLY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS UNHCR'S DIFFICULTIES WITHOUT CAUSING THE MAJOR DISRUPTION WHICH THEIR PRESENT PLANS IMPLY.

3. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF UKMIS GENEVA WOULD TRY AGAIN TO IMPRESS UPON UNHCR THE DIFFICULTY WHICH THEIR PREMATURE WITHDRAWAL OF FOOD RELIEF WOULD CREATE FOR HKG. THE ESSENTIAL POINT IS THAT VERY SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY THE END OF THE YEAR ON THE CURRENT PLANS AND THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT ON 31 JUNE IS THEREFORE UNACCEPTABLE.

WILSON

YYYY

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