CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 21010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 871
OF 20141OZ APRIL 89
CONFIDENTIAL
AND TO DESKBY 21090OZ UKMIS GENEVA
(24)
HKD 243/20
(26
173523 MDHOAN 9550
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 1228 AND UKMIS GENEVA TELNO 203 : VIETNAMESE BOAT
PEOPLE: FINANCE
1. MINISTERS HAVE AGREED TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF UP TO PDS STG 6 MILLION TO COVER THE FULL CAPITAL COSTS (HKD 79 MILLION) OF THE
PILLAR POINT REFUGEE CAMP. THEY WILL CHANNEL THIS TO YOU THROUGH THE UNHCR IN RESPONSE TO THE APPEAL WHICH UNHCR ARE TO MAKE IN
THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
2.
SUBJECT TO FINAL CONFIRMATION, WE PLAN TO ANNOUNCE THE DECISION ON 21 APRIL BY MEANS ON AN INSPIRED PQ. THE TEXT OF
THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS LIKELY TO BE AS FOLLOWS:
QUOTE I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT HAS BEEN IMPOSED ON HONG KONG BY VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. I HAVE THEREFORE DECIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OF UP TO PDSTG6 MILLION IN RESPONSE TO AN INTERNATIONAL APPEAL WHICH
UNHCR WILL SHORTLY LAUNCH FOR FUNDS TO MEET THE CAPITAL COSTS OF PILLAR POINT, A NEW REFUGEE CENTRE WHICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE CONSTRUCTING IN THE TERRITORY. THIS UNDERLINES OUR FIRM INTENTION TO HELP HONG KONG DEAL WITH THIS IMMENSELY DIFFICULT HUMANITARIAN PROBLEM IN EVERY WAY WE CAN UNQUOTE.
3. THE TIMING OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD ENBABLE YOU TO BRIEF LEGCO MEMBERS INFORMALLY BEFOREHAND AT YOUR PLANNED MEETING ON
21 APRIL. WE HOPE THAT YOU WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO MAKE AN
APPROPRIATE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT AS SOON AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM TO YOU THAT THE PQ WILL GO AHEAD AS INTENDED.
4.
IN SPEAKING TO LEGCO ABOUT OUR DECISION, YOU WILL NO DOUBT WISH TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE SUM INVOLVED IS THE EQUIVALENT OF JUST ABOUT HALF THE COST OF STAGES THREE AND FOUR OF THE WHITEHEAD PROJECT. IT WILL BE USED TO REIMBURSE THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT FOR EXPENDITURE ALREADY INCURRED OVER THE PILLAR POINT
PROJECT.
5. YOU MAY EXPLAIN TO LEGCO IF NECESSARY AND ON A STRICTLY CONFIDENTIL
BASIS THAT HMG HAVE BEEN LOOKING URGENTLY AT WAYS IN WHICH THEY COULD HELP HONG KONG MEET THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE CONTINUING BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM. WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE NEED TO FIND NEW ACCOMMODATION FOR THE LATEST ARRIVALS. BUT THE ONLY SOURCE OF
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CONFIDENTIAL
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