CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3606
OF 30113OZ OCTOBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
CONFIDENTIAL
343
125107 MDHIAN 2107
HK B
243 19
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
PHOENIX HOUSE/MANDATORY REPATRIATION
PHOENIX HOUSE
·
Q1 WHY HAVE A FURTHER GROUP OF VBP BEEN MOVED TO PHOENIX HOUSE? A1. ́A SERIES OF MOVES BEGAN TODAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AVAILABIL- ITY OF NEW ACCOMMODATION. THERE IS SPARE CAPACITY AT PHOENIX HOUSE AND IT WAS DECIDED TO MOVE IN A FURTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS
HAVE BEEN REJECTED.
Q2. DOES THIS MEAN THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS IMMINENT? A2. PHOENIX HOUSE IS USED TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED. 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AT PHOENIX HOUSE FOR SIX WEEKS. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING'S MOVEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT THE.IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS IMMINENT. NO AGREEMENT CONCLUDED WITH VIETNAMESE: NO DATE SET FOR THE RETURN OF
THE FIRST GROUP.
Q3. WHY WAS SUCH A LARGE CSD/POLICE PRESENCE NECESSARY?
A3. NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF
ALL VBP AT THE CAMP.
Q4. WILL THE GROUP AT PHOENIX HOUSE BE THE FIRST TO BE REPATRIATED?
A4. NO DECISIONS ON REPATRIATION HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS STAGE. THE GROUP AT PHOENIX HOUSE WILL NOW RECEIVE FURTHER UNHCR/HKG COUNSELLING FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.
Q5. HOW WERE THE 50 SELECTED?
A5. THESE PEOPLE ARE AMONGST THE FIRST TO HAVE THEIR APPEALS REJECTED
Q6. WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF PHOENIX HOUSE. WILL MORE BE MOVED?
A6. THE CAPACITY IS ABOUT 80. NO PLANS TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE TO
PHOENIX HOUSE AT THIS TIME.