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assistance to those who volunteer to leave Hong Kong can be said to act as an incentive. It is not widely known that some boats come with almost no provisions and in very poor condition. If it were known, this would merely add credence to the view that Hong Kong is assisting refugees to continue their journey.
(c) Many voluntary departure cases are not genuine refugees
Any
We have found a disturbing number of illegal immigrants on board among refugees who say that they do not wish to land in Hong Kong but to continue their journey. Although we might have missed a handful of illegal immigrants at the beginning, we are now quite thorough in our examination of those on board. illegal immigrants are removed and are returned to China as quickly as possible via Man Kam To on the daily shuttle service. However, the Government of the Philippines has indicated to the UNHCR and the Americans (but not directly to us) that some of our voluntary departure cases who land in the Philippines include ex-China cases. As you know, any ex-China refugee who asks to land in Hong Kong and who is identified as
not necessarily the key having resided in China for several years is repatriated
is whether they are registered askelthed
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to China. This can take several years and we are now attempting to reduce the number of ex-China cases in Hong Kong (presently about 90) and to develop a new procedure for dealing with future ex-China cases.
The Philippine Government, through the indirect channels mentioned above, has suggested that Hong Kong should remove ex-China cases from the boats containing refugees who volunteer to continue their journey. They argue that because we have an existing procedure, a land border with China, and relatively good relations with the PRCG, then it is much easier for us to deal with these ex-China cases.
I have argued back through the same indirect channels that since these refugees do not seek to land in Hong Kong they are "airport transit lounge cases" (i.e. outside our jurisdiction) and we are unable to take any action against them. I have also pointed out that the Philippine Government has diplomatic relations with the PRCG. It would merely have to ask that they be returned and both ICM and the UNHCR would make all the necessary arrangements. I have also argued that the resettlement countries in the Philippines should not (not) consider any of these ex-China cases for resettlement. This point has been accepted by the Americans, in particular, and by the Canadians and Australians. Each is applying considerable pressure to the Philippine Government to do something about these ex-China cases. To date, the Government of the
Mey've been Morice engage, Philippines has done nothing and we understand that
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