TNAG-1911-FCO40-2715-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 164

PTAANB

CONFIDENTIAL

From: C C D Haswell

HKB

243 ill

Hong Kong Department

Date: 13 October 1989

PS/Mr Maude

VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: FINANCE

CC

: PS/Lord Brabazon

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Colvin, SEAD

Mr Clements, RMD

Mr Faint, EAD, ODA

144

1.

The final paragraph of your minute to the Private Secretary of

10 October refers to action in hand on the various financial aspects

of the Vietnamese boat people problem. It might be helpful if I

separate the strands of this.

2. There are three separate sums involved:

(a) £5m, over and above the US$1000 per head which has already been

agreed, to assist the reintegration of those returning to

Vietnam;

(b) Just under £5.6m to assist Hong Kong with the completion of

existing accommodation projects;

(c) A sum earlier assessed at around £24m, to build additional

accommodation on the island of Tai A Chau to prepare for a

possible influx in 1990.

3. A possible reintegration assistance programme was discussed at a

meeting held in SEAD on 12 October, which was attended by Mr Alf

Dubs, Director of the British Refugee Council. Mr Dubs had recently

visited Vietnam and had established that there was a particular

CONFIDENTIAL