HONG KONG FUNDING PROPOSAL FOR TAFT FUND FOR

UNCLAS HONG KONG 001031

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PRM/ANE - KINSEY, CURTIS; ALSO FOR EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PHUM HK
SUBJECT: HONG KONG FUNDING PROPOSAL FOR TAFT FUND FOR

REFUGEES

REF: (A) STATE 14280 (B) WEBER-KINSEY/CURTIS E-MAILS


1. Summary: At PRM/ANE request, Post has coordinated with
Hong Kong's Christian Action NGO on their proposal for a
project to increase the capacity of their Chungking Mansions
Service Center to address the needs of vulnerable women and
children among Hong Kong's refugee and asylum-seeker
population. The grant would focus on protecting and
supporting women and children who may be in flight from
domestic violence, and in preventing exploitation of
otherwise vulnerable women by the sex trade. Besides helping
this vulnerable population, this grant would be a visible
sign of our commitment to help Hong Kong improve its handling
of refugees and asylum seekers, concerns about which we have
expressed in our Human Rights Report. End summary.


2. Recipient: Christian Action is a registered non-profit,
non-government organization in Hong Kong. Founded by the
Rev. Karl Stumpf in the 1950s, the organization has
previously worked to support Vietnamese "boat people" in Hong
Kong in the 1980s. The group's "aim is to promote the
welfare of the poor and disadvantaged with particular
emphasis on displaced persons, irrespective of race, gender,
religion or nationality." Current activities include: Direct
advice and advocacy; emergency support for families and
singles of both genders; education for children; after-school
support and social integration programs; recreational
activities; assistance for unaccompanied minor-age refugees;
therapeutic support; food program; and a limited counseling
support program.


3. Proposal: Christian Action's complete proposal was
submitted electronically to PRM/ANE. Its general goals
include public advocacy for refugees and asylum seekers in
Hong Kong, providing protection for women and children
fleeing domestic or other violence or exploitation, and
offering financial, emotional, physical and spiritual support
to refugees and asylum seekers. In addition, the group hopes
its support for women will help protect them from falling
into exploitation in the sex trade because of economic
hardship.


4. Justification: Hong Kong is not a signatory to the 1951
Refugee Convention, and claims for refuge are processed by
the UNHCR representative in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's process
for dealing with asylum seekers has been found by the UN and
Hong Kong's courts to be inadequate, and an extensive policy
review is underway. Pending resolution of these issues,
refugees and asylum seekers are left in a legal limbo, with
limited support provided by the Hong Kong government through
its welfare system. While the courts have ruled refugees and
asylum seekers cannot be forbidden to work pending resolution
of their cases, there is not a substantial legal or
regulatory framework in place yet to normalize this status.
Since these concerns have and continue to be expressed by the
USG in our human rights reporting process, support for NGOs
providing service to this population serves to highlight that
we are doing more than merely leveling criticism.


5. Grant Authority: Post's Public Affairs Office has the
authority and the capacity to award a grant to the proposed
recipient.
DONOVAN