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assu ces from the Vietnamese that returned
refugees would not be punished.
3. However, we recognise that the majority of
Vietnamese currently in Hong Kong do not fit into
the traditional category of refugees, and that
resettlement countries, in particular the Americans
are classifying many as economic migrants, in the
belief that they leave Vietnam in order to seek
greater prosperity rather than through fear of
political persecution. Ambassador Douglas's
remarks (para 1 of Washington telno 1408)
underline this. The Hong Kong Government are
therefore placed in the situation whereby they
are required to treat arriving boat people as
refugees, but are unable to resettle them because
others consider them to be economic migrants.
UNHCR seem to be aware of this situation (para 2
of your TUR) but we wish to bring the implications
of it more directly to their attention.
were
4. If the boat people are really economic
migrants, it would on the face of it be justifiable for Hong Kong
to treat them as illegal immigrants, and explore
the possibility of Usafe repatriation!!, However,
if as we believe, they would be subject to
persecution on return to Vietnam, they are de facto
refugees and must be treated as such by
resettlement countries.
5. You should therefore approach UNHCR along
the following lines:
(a)
thank them for their helpful response,
outlined in your TUR;
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/(b)
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