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MDHIAN 2291
RESPONSIBILITIES TO GENUINE REFUGEES. FOR SOME TIME NOW IT HAS BEEN OUR VIEW THAT THOSE WHO LEAVE VIETNAME FOR ESSENTIALLY ECONOMIC REASONS AND WHO DO NOT MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA SHOULD BE RETURNED TO VIETNAM, SUBJECT TO SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS FOR THIER 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 ENABLING GENUINE REFUGEES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ASYLUM AND RESETTLEMENT.
F) 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 SCREEING OF ARRIVALS UNDER UNHCR GUIDELINES. UNHCR WILL BE INVITED TO OBSERVE SCREEING PROCEDURES IN ACTION, AND WILL BE INVOLVED IN APPEALS IF THEY WISH.
G) THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED IN AS REFUGEES WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN CLOSED CENTRES WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ACCORDED REFUGEES STATUS UNDER CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT INTEND THAT CONDITIONS IN THESE CAMPS WILL BE LIBERALISED OVER TIME..
H) THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT WILL BE HELD AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WHEN ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR RETURN, UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS, HAVE BEEN AGREED WITH VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES THEY WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN CLOSED CENTRES RUN ON SIMILAR LINES TO EXISTING CLOSED CENTRES FOR REFUGEES.
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I) 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.
J) WE NOTE THAT THE US ADMINISTRATION HAS ALSO PUBLICLY INDICATED SUPPORT FOR SCREENING AND THE DENIAL OF RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-BONA FIDE REFUGEES AMBASSADOR MOORE'S STATEMENT AT THE IRAC CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON ON 7 JUNE.
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.
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