CONFIDENTIAL
FCO Policy Review
5. We are in the process of drafting a wide-ranging policy paper on Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong, which we shall submit to Ministers
in the next few weeks. The aim of the paper will be to describe all
the possible options, including voluntary repatriation and screening (see para 6 below), to consider the implications of each, and to
reach conclusions as to the best way forward. We have told the Hong
Kong Government that we will consult them to ensure that their views are fully reflected in the paper.
Screening and Repatriation of New Arrivals
6. The Hong Kong Government have recently drawn up new proposals for screening newly arriving Vietnamese and repatriating those not qualifying as refugees to Vietnam.
i) Repatriation. The Hong Kong Government now recognise that
involuntary repatriation is not feasible at present, because of
the lack of cooperation from the Vietnamese (ie their refusal
both to allow refugees back and to give assurances that any who did eventually return would not be treated inhumanely). However
they remain convinced that in the long term, repatriation
remains the correct and logical solution to the problem. would like HMA Hanoi to be authorised to approach the Vietnamese authorities in order to try to persuade them to accept those
returned, and not to treat them inhumanely.
They
ii) Screening. The Hong Kong Government have considered the
possibility of arranging for all newly arriving Vietnamese to be screened by an independent tribunal, attended by a UNHCR observer. Those considered to be genuine refugees would be detained in the existing closed centres pending resettlement; those considered to be economic migrants would be detained as
illegal immigrants until they could be returned to Vietnam.
Under an alternative proposal, all would be detained initially as illegal immigrants, but UNHCR could advise the Hong Kong Government of particular cases qualifying for refugee status.
The latter would be transferred to closed centres to await
resettlement. The illegal immigrants would be repatriated when
possible.
CONFIDENTIAL