SCORRI ра
PAR PL
Quemin 2 (28)
REPLY BY THE HON. MR. MICHAEL THOMAS, C.M.G., Q.C., ATTORNEY GENERAL
1KK 243/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
20 JAN1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PAQUESTION aken
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TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF 8 JANUARY, 1986
Will Government take steps through the appropriate channels to negotiate with the Vietnamese Authorities to accept the repatriation of refugees coming to Hong Kong in the future?
REPLY
The Hong Kong Government has no diplomatic status
Such negotiations
to negotiate with the Vietnamese Government.
could only be initiated through Her Majesty's Government.
2.
The general situation is that negotiations with the Vietnamese Government on voluntary repatriation are undertaken by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Voluntary repatriation is regarded by the UNHCR as the most desirable solution to refugee problems.
3.
However, an essential ingredient for voluntary
repatriation is volunteers.
Since 1975, out of the 110,000
refugees who have come to Hong Kong only 22 have asked to return to Vietnam. Only 14 of these 22 have actually returned. We and the UNHCR have been awaiting a reply from the Vietnamese Government since 1983 on whether it is
prepared to accept the remaining eight.
4.
This causes us to doubt whether voluntary repatriation on a large scale is likely to be feasible in the foreseeable future.
5. As regards
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