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MDHOAN 7525
ECONOMIC REASONS AND WHO DO NOT MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA SHOULD BE
RETURNED TO VIETNAM, SUBJECT TO SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN. WE HAVE TAKEN CAREFUL NOTE OF THE OTTAWA
MEETING OF THE ICG IN APRIL AND OF THE GUIDANCE PAPER WHICH
EMERGED FROM THAT MEETING. WE WISH TO ENSURE THAT ANY CHANGE IN
POLICY SHOULD DETER NON-REFUGEES FROM LEAVING VIETNAM WHILE ENBLING
GENUINE REFUGEES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ASYLUM AND
RESETTLEMENT.
(G) AFTER MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WE AND THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT A NEW POLICY SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
IT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON 16 JUNE. IN ESSENCE THE NEW POLICY WILL
INVOLVE SCREENING OF ARRIVALS UNDER UNHCR GUIDELINES. UNHCR WILL
BE INVITED TO OBSERVE SCREENING PROCEDURES IN ACTION, AND MAY BE
INVOLVED IN APPEALS.
(H) THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED IN AS REFUGEES WILL BE ACCOMMODATED
IN CLOSED CENTRES WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ACCORDED REFUGEE
STATUS UNDER CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
INTEND THAT CONDITIONS IN THESE CAMPS WILL BE LIBERILISED OVER
TIME.
(I) THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT WILL BE HELD AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WHEN ARRANGEMENTS FOR
THEIR
FOR THOSE
RETURN, UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS, HAVE BEEN AGREED WITH VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS
SCREENED OUT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY IN EFFECT IN THE.
CLOSED CENTRES.
(J) WE AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THAT THESE
ARRANGEMENTS WILL PROVIDE A DETERRENT TO THOSE WISHING TO LEAVE VIETNAM FOR ESSENTIALLY ECONOMIC REASONS, WHILE ENSURING THAT THE RIGHTS OF GENUINE REFUGEES WHO REACH HONG KONG ARE PROPERLY
PROTECTED.
(K) WE AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU
FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND THE UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO
THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE
REASONS FOR THIS CHANGE IN POLICY, AND THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT IT PUBLICLY.
(L) A CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW POLICY
WILL BE PERSUADING THE VIETNAMESE TO ACCEPT BACK THOSE WHO ARE
NOT REFUGEES UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN. WE HAVE FOUND THE DISCUSSIONS IN ICG MOST HELPFUL ON THIS
POINT. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THE
VIETNAMESE ON THIS AND TO PERSUADE OTHERS (PARTICULARLY ASEAN) OF
ITS IMPORTANCE.WE WILL BE DOING LIKEWISE. THIS IS A PROBLEM
THAT AFFECTS ALL SOUTH EAST
ASIA.
DEPARTURE AND SETTLEMENT SHOULD ONLY BE BY SAFE AND LEGAL
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