TNAG-1975-FCO40-2808-Financial-assistance-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 20

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1319

OF 27070OZ APRIL 89

INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA

CONFIDENTIAL

MED 243/20

Top GOPY

DAT ?

46

014430 MDHIAN 2359

UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 219: OUR TELNO 1289: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

FINANCE

Yo

(39)

WE AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT IN PARAGRAPH 4 OF UKMIS GENEVA TUR.

THERE IS LITTLE TO BE GAINED FROM A COSMETIC APPEAL WHEREAS AN

EXPANSION TO US20 MILLION LOOKS ATTRACTIVE. A DELAY UNTIL THE WEEK

BEGINNING 8 MAY WOULD NOT CAUSE US ANY DIFFICULTIES.

2. WE ARE SLIGHTLY SURPRISED THAT UNHCR SEEM TO BE PREPARED (PARA

3 OF UKMIS GENEVA TUR) TO CONSIDER FUNDING ACCOMMODATION FOR NEW ARRIVALS. IF UNHCR WISH TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THIS EXPANDED APPEAL WE

AND THEY MUST BE UNDER NO ILLUSION AS TO THE EFFECT ON LEGCO HERE:

ONCE THE SCOPE OF THE APPEAL IS ANNOUNCED MEMBERS WILL CONCLUDE THAT

WE ARE ABSOLVED OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEETING THE COSTS OF ACCOMMODATING FURTHER ARRIVALS. (THIS SHOULD HOWEVER NOT/NOT AFFECT

THE PROVISION OF FUNDS FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF WHITEHEAD PLUS OTHER EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION SINCE THIS IS NOW DUE TO BE CONSIDERED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE ON 3 MAY.: OUR TELNO 1315 REFERS.) WE ALSO NEED

TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE PURPOSES TO WHICH THE FUNDS MIGHT BE PUT. IN

GENERAL TERMS WE SEE THE OBJECTIVE AS BEING TO RAISE FUNDS TO ENABLE

UNHCR TO REIMBURSE HKG FOR EXPENDITURE ON ACCOMMODATION FOR VBP

AND REFUGEES. THE APPEAL SHOULD THEREFORE COVER:

(A) THE COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE PILLAR POINT REFUGEE CAMP:

(B) THE COST OF PROVIDING NEW EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR NEWLY ARRIVED VBP: AND

(C) THE COST OF RENOVATING THE EXISTING REFUGEE CAMPTS.

3. WE ARE HOWEVER SLIGHTLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE REFERENCE IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF FIRST TUR TO QUOTE OTHER UNHCR REQUIREMENTS IN HONG

KONG IN 1989 UNQUOTE. UNHCR HAVE INFORMED US THAT THEY WILL HAVE

DIFFICULTY IN REIMBURSING HKG FOR EXPENDITURE ON THE CARE AND MAIN- TENANCE OF VBP AS AGREED IN THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING. THEY HAVE

ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS IN FUNDING THEIR VOLUNTARY

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CONFIDENTIAL