CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
TELNO 107
OF 271515Z APRIL 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
44
020035
MDHOAN 0056
TOP COPY a DIST 343/20
Q
YOUR TELNO 219 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1319: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
FINANCE
1. WE TOO AGREE THAT THE BEST COURSE IS FOR UNHCR TO LAUNCH AN EXPANDED APPEAL FOR US20 MILLION DOLLARS TO COVER THE COSTS OF EMERGENCY/TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR NEW ARRIVALS AND OTHER UNHCR REQUIREMENTS IN HONG KONG FOR 1989.
2. PARA 2 OF TUR:
GIVEN POSSIBLE LEGCO REACTIONS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
THE NATURE OF THE APPEAL SHOULD NOT (NOT) BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE BEFORE FUNDS ARE APPROVED FOR WHITEHEAD STAGES III AND IV ON 3 MAY. IF NECESSARY, HONG KONG MAY WISH TO BRIEF SELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS ON THE BACKGROUND TO THE APPEAL AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, AND TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS IS THE MOST THAT UNHCR CAN BE EXPECTED TO DO TO ASSIST IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
3. WE ARE NOT SURE THAT WE SHOULD INSIST ON UNHCR MEETING THE COSTS OF ITEM (C) OF TUR BEFORE THE OTHER ITEMS WHICH THEY MAY NEED TO FUND FOR HONG KONG. CLEARLY FIRST CALL ON ANY FUNDS RAISED MUST BE PILLAR POINT. BUT OTHER PRIORITIES WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE DISCUSSED WITH UNHCR ONCE THE RESPONSE TO THEIR APPEAL HAS BECOME CLEAR. ONE APPROACH ON ITEM (C) WOULD THEN BE TO LET UNHCR CHOOSE TO FUND THIS ITEM IF THEY BELIEVE IT IS A PRIORITY, WHILE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THEY CANNOT EXPECT HONG KONG TO GO TO FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR MORE FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE.
HOWE
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CONFIDENTIAL
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