amnesty international
INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
1 Easton Street London WC1X 8DJ
United Kingdom
TG ASA 19.03/88
Sir David Wilson
Governor
Office of the Governor
Government House
Victoria
Hong Kong
Dear Sir David
22 July 1988
We would like to raise with you some issues that may be of concern to Amnesty International. They arise from last month's announcement by the Hong Kong authorities of a screening procedure for newly-arrived Vietnamese asylum seekers in order to determine who will qualify as refugees for eventual resettlement in third countries, and who will be expected eventually to return to Viet Nam.
Amnesty International's concern for refugees and asylum seekers derives directly from its human rights concerns, which address three specific areas of human rights:
It seeks the release of people detained anywhere for their beliefs, colour, sex,
ethnic origin, language or religion, provided they have not used or advocated violence. These are termed "prisoners of conscience".
It advocates fair and early trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such persons detained without charge or without trial.
It opposes the death penalty and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation.
Following from these concerns, Amnesty International works to prevent the return of any person against their will to a country where they might reasonably be expected to be imprisoned as a prisoner of conscience, tortured or executed.
As part of its work for refugees and asylum seekers, Amnesty International seeks to ensure that states' refugee determination procedures are adequate to identify asylum seekers who would risk becoming victims of human rights violations if returned against their will to the country they have fled or if sent against their will to any other country.
Amnesty International is therefore concerned about the procedures which will be followed in Hong Kong to screen asylum seekers from Viet Nam, and in particular the criteria to be used in making determinations, the body
01-833 1771 Telegrams: Amnesty London WC1 Telex: 28502
Amnesty International is an independent worldwide movement working impartially for the release of all prisoners of conscience, fair and prompt trials for political prisoners and an end to torture and executions. It is funded by donations from its members and supporters throughout the world. It has formal relations with the United Nations, Unesco, the Council of Europe, the Organization of African Unity and the Organization of American States.
}