TNAG-1916-FCO40-2720-Accommodation-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 119

I

NATIONS UNIES

HAUT COMMISSARIAT POUR LES RÉFUGIÉS

Télégrammes : HICOMREF

Télex : 27492 UNHCR CH

Téléphone : 31.02.61

FRS/L/89/13

UNITED NATIONS

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Patala des Nations

CH-1211 ĢENÈVE 10

12 May 1989

sir,

I have the honour to refer to the situation of Vietnamese asylum seekers in South East Asia.

An increased rate of arrival of boat people in the region in the last few months has compelled us to review the resources at our disposal to assist these refugees. While we are studying the possible implication of this new development on our budgetary estimates, we should like at this stage,

UNHCR 's to draw your attention to

programme of assistance

Hong Kong.

in

At

the last

Commissioner's

session

Programme,

of the Executive the Committee

approved

to

estimate an

12,000 refugees

High

of

in

of the Committee

an allocation to cover the care and US$ 6.8 million under the 1989 General Programmes

and maintenance, local settlement, resettlement and programme support administrative costs relating Hong Kong. In the latter part of 1988, however, new arrivals increased at such a rate that by 31 December 1988 the camp population in Hong Kong had reached 25,648. The arrival rate in 1989 has remained high.

By the first week in May, there were some 32,000 refugees and asylum seekers accommodated in the five refugee centres and seven "closed" centres of the Territory. Such an increase in the caseload to be assisted is straining the resources allocated and has necessitated an upward revision Given the trend in arrivals, of the budgetary requirement for the year.

it is now estimated that UNHCR will need to assist an average caseload of the Details of 37,000 people at a total cost of US$ 23.2 million. assistance to be provided are attached at Annex I.

His Excellency

Mr. John A. Sankey, C.M.G.

Ambassador

Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom

to the United Nations Office at Geneva

37-39, rue de Vermont

1211 Geneva

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