CONFIDENTIAL
125107
MDHIAN 2107
VIETNAMESE COMING TO HONG KONG ARE NOT REFUGEES ACCORDING TO THE UNHCR DEFINITION OF A REFUGEE. MOST ARE POOR PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF A
BETTER LIFE. IT IS SAD THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS. THE WORLD IS NO LONGER PREPARED TO RESETTLE ALL VIETNAMESE WHO
DECIDE TO LEAVE.
THE HKG IS SEEKING TO APPLY THE NORMAL PROCEDURES HUMANELY. IT
CANNOT BE HUMANE TO LEAVE PEOPLE IN DETENTION INDEFINATELY. THOSE
WHO ARE SCREENED OUT CANNOT BE RESETTLED. NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO RETURN TO VIETNAM TO RESTART THEIR LIVES.
Q4
·
UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WILL PEOPLE RETURN TO VIETNAM?
"
A 4 THERE CAN BE NO REPATRIATION WITHOUT ADEQUATE ASSURANCES. THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE GIVEN ASSURANCES THAT PEOPLE RETURNING
WILL NOT BE PUNISHED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL
TO ESTABLISH AN ADEQUATE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT. THERE WILL ALSO BE
REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE RESTART THEIR LIVES.
Q5. HK'S POLICY AMOUNTS TO BREAKING THE ESTABLISHED PRACTICE FOR
Q5. HKG'S POLICY AMOUNTS TO BREAKING THE ESTABLISHED PRACTICE FOR
DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM.
A5. NO. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AGREED A PACKAGE OF MEASURES (THE CPA) TO DEAL WITH THEIS PROBLEM IN JUNE THIS YEAR. THE CPA
CONSISTS OF 4 ELEMENTS:
1. FIRST ASYLUM
2. SCREENING
3. RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES
4. REPATRIATION OF NON-REFUGEES
THE FIRST 3 ELEMENTS ARE IN PLACE.
THE HKG IS SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT THIS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT IN FULL.
REPATRIATION OF NON-REFUGEES IS THE STANDARD INTERNATIONAL ARRANGEMENT. (EG. HAITI, EL SALVADOR, TAMILS, CHINA)
Q6. CAN THE GOVERNMENT BE CERTAIN THAT NO REFUGEES WILL BE REPATRIATED?
A6. THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE CERTAIN THAT NO ONE WHO THE UNHCR CONSIDERS
TO BE A REFUGEE WILL BE REPATRIATED.
Q7. US AND OTHER OPPOSITION. IS THIS A FACTOR IN THE GOVERNMENT'S HESITATION?
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
3