Turning to resettlement, we raised the particular problem of the fishermen we had met, for whom their boats were their homes and livelihoods. We commented that this problem should be resolved urgently. More generally, we said that ways should be explored of expanding the rehabilitation programme, perhaps through more money or the involvement of NGOs. The British public may well be willing to contribute financially to support the work the NGOs are able to do in Vietnam for returning boat people, which will in itself mobilise British public opinion.
Analysis
30. By their own account, none of those we interviewed had suffered persecution before they decided to flee Vietnam. The only reasons they gave were the wish to escape poverty and make better lives for themselves elsewhere. All those who returned to Vietnam on
12 December 1989 had left the country with the knowledge that all those who had gone before them had automatically been granted refugee status on arrival in Hong Kong and were now being resettled or awaiting resettlement. They had no reason to believe that they would be treated differently and no way of knowing that screening would be introduced on 16 June 1988, during the course of their journeys from Vietnam to Hong Kong. By the time they arrived they were subject to the new procedures.
31. All the non-volunteers received similar treatment on their arrival in Hong Kong waters and had broadly similar recollections of life in the camps. It is unfortunate that, before their return to Vietnam on 12 December 1989, some were not fully paid for work they had done in the camps, but we understand from the British Ambassador in Hanoi that he is now arranging to distribute the arrears.
32. It became clear from our interviews with non-volunteers that they had no real understanding of the screening process and only a hazy recollection of the procedures they followed. In particular, none seemed entirely aware of whether they had appealed or not against the initial decision that they were not refugees. Advice and representation appear to have been lacking, and it took up to nearly a year to learn the final decision on their status. Nonetheless, those we interviewed appeared to understand and appreciate the distinction between refugees and economic migrants and accepted that they did not qualify as refugees. Despite this, however, some had still been reluctant to believe that they would inevitably be returned to Vietnam.
33.
It was clear from our discussions with the returnees that most of them knew little or nothing about the volunteer repatriation programme; and seem to have been provided with very little information on which to base a decision whether or not to "sign on" to return voluntarily. They claimed to have received no written information or seen any video films which would put in perspective the prospects for them and their families if they were to return to Vietnam. Only one returnee group seemed to have had any official advice to put them in the picture about what would await them in
11