TNAG-1911-FCO40-2715-Financial-assistance-from-the-UK-Government-to-Vietnamese-re-1989 — Page 193

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FM UKMIS GENEVA

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 579

OF 191511Z SEPTEMBER 1989

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, WASHINGTON, HANOI

131

YOUR TELNO 1879 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE

1. YOU SUGGESTED IN PARA 3 OF TUR THAT HONG KONG MIGHT OPEN A ''SUSPENSE'' ACCOUNT, PENDING UNHCR REIMBURSEMENT, TO COVER RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON VBPS IN HONG KONG.

2. WE SEE NO OBJECTION IN PRINCIPLE BUT WOULD RECOMMEND CONSIDERABLE CAUTION. IN UNHCR'S CURRENT FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HONG KONG COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED REIMBURSEMENT IN FULL BY UNHCR. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST FIGURES, UNHCR FACES A SHORTFALL OF AT LEAST US DOLLARS 60 M IN CALENDAR YEAR 1989 (15 PERCENT OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE ON UNHCR OPERATIONS IN 1989 WORLDWIDE), WHICH WILL BE CARRIED FORWARD INTO 1990. DEPENDING ON DECISIONS AT THE UNHCR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN EARLY OCTOBER, THIS DEFICIT MAY HAVE TO BE COVERED BY DRASTIC PRUNING OF UNHCR'S OPERATIONS AND COSTS IN 1990. THIS IN TURN WILL AFFECT UNHCR'S ABILITY TO MEET IN 1990 ANY FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO HONG

KONG WHICH HAD BEEN DEFERRED FROM THIS YEAR.

SANKEY

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

111

DISTRIBUTION

118

.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK

LIMITED

HKD

SEAD

UND

LEGAL ADVISERS

PUSD

ECD (E)

FED

RMD

PS

PAGE

PS/MR MAUDE

PS/MR SAINSBURY

PS/LORD BRABAZON

PS/MRS CHALKER

PS/PUS

MR GILLMORE

MR SLATER

1

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