CONFIDENTIAL
010433 MDHIAN 959
THIS SCREENING HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN FULL COOPERATION WITH THE UNHCR AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. EVERY OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ALLOW VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE TO PRESENT THEIR CASES INDIVIDUALLY AND FULLY.
8. WE WOULD MUCH PREFER THAT THOSE WHO ARE NOT DETERMINED TO BE GENUINE REFUGEES SHOULD RETURN VOLUNTARILY. BUT SO FAR ONLY SQUARE BRACKETS BEGIN BLANK SQUARE BRACKETS END HAVE VOLUNTEERED. THIS IS FAR TOO FEW TO MAKE ANY REAL IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM NOW FACING HONG KONG, AND THERE IS NO PROSPECT THAT ALLOWING MORE TIME WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE FLOW OF VOLUNTEERS.
9. WITH THE NEXT SAILING SEASON DUE TO START IN FEBRUARY, AND THE PROSPECT OF MANY THOUSANDS MORE REFUGEES ARRIVING NEXT YEAR, HONG KONG HAS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO RETURN THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL IN SUCH ACTION. NO COUNTRY LIKES TO DEPORT PEOPLE BUT MANY ARE FORCED TO DO SO.
10. BUT WE HAVE AGREED A NUMBER OF SAFEGUARDS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE RECEIVED FIRM ASSURANCES THAT RETURNING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ILL-TREATED, VICTIMISED OR PUNISHED. WE WILL MONITOR THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM VERY CAREFULLY THROUGH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN HANOI, AND WITH THE HELP OF UNHCR AND BRITISH NGOS - TO ENSURE THAT THESE ASSURANCES ARE HONOURED. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO
HELP RETURNEES REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
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11. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE COURSE AND THAT RETURNEES WILL BE RECEIVED IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY. THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY RETURNED VOLUNTARILY HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TREATED.
ACLAND
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
113
DISTRIBUTION
121
PS/MR MAUDE
PS/MR SAINSBURY
PS/LORD BRABAZON
PS/MRS CHALKER
.VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HK
LIMITED
RMD
PS
HKD
SEAD
UND
LEGAL ADVISERS
PAGE
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CONFIDENTIAL