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This is not a British invention: it would be the case anywhere
in the world wherever they came from or went to.
- It is normal international practice to return illegal
immigrants to their own country.
But I must stress that genuine refugees will retain the right to stay safely in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement.
POSSIBLE SUPPLEMENTARY
1(b) Will the boat people thus be forced onto aeroplanes returning
to Vietnam?
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- The Vietnamese boat people must face the fact that their future lies in Vietnam. It must be right to work, as we are, for the best possible arrangements for their return.
We are of course acutely conscious of the need to be fair and to be seen to be fair by everyone involved.
That is why we decided to use criteria established by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to determine who were genuine refugees and who were not; and moreover made sure that the UNHCR were satisfied with the procedures we
Hong Kong.
We are not washing our hands of those who cannot stay in Hong
Kong. We have made it clear to Vietnam that those returning must be treated humanely and their reintegration into Vietnamese life must also be monitored by the UNHCR.
The Vietnamese have assured us that returning boat people
will not be punished.
2(a) How satisfied are you with the assurances you have received
from the Vietnamese on the treatment of those who return?