7
The
recorded on the old questionnaire and only the new material
was recorded on the new form. Taken together, the two forms cover all of the ground required under UNHCR procedures. Wherever appropriate, Immigration Officers have gone beyond the questionnaire to obtain information which might be
important in assessing a claim for refugee status. (b) Second, more detailed interviewing on key issues. Hong Kong Government will be pleased to consider any specific proposals for improvements to interviewing procedures. (c) Third, the provision of reasons for the rejection of claims to refugee status. The reasons for rejecting a specific claim for refugee status based on a well founded fear of persecution are provided to the asylum seekers at the time the determination notice is issued. Very often an asylum seeker does not claim to have a well founded fear of
persecution and it is therefore not possible to provide specific grounds for rejection in the determination notice. However, copies of all the documents in the case files, including the completed questionnaire, are provided to the UNHCR as well as to the asylum seeker or his representative, if requested. The grounds for a negative decision are fully set out in these papers. The Hong Kong Government looks
forward to further discussion with UNHCR officials on procedural issues and on specific cases and assures the UNHCR that immediate remedial action will be taken to rectify any flaws in procedures or decisions in particular cases. (d) Fourth, the Hong Kong Government shares UNHCR's concern to ensure a high quality of interpretation in the status determination interviews, and has made every effort to ensure that the interpreters have the necessary skill to do their job. All the interpreters engaged in determination interviews have been fully tested before employment. The Hong Kong Government believes that it has been able to recruit some of the best interpreters available in Hong Kong but in view of UNHCR concerns a review will be conducted with a view
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