VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: BULL POINTS
Orderly Repatriation Programme in accordance with
Comprehensive Plan of Action approved in 1989 by Second
International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees.
Vietnamese assurance that no returnees will face
persecution. Not one instance in 20,000 returnees.
To ensure that genuine refugees are protected and
resettled, economic migrants must return to their country
of origin, in accordance with international practice.
We have now returned 123 non-refugees (75 double backers
and 48 recent arrivals including family members) in
addition to the 51 who were repatriated in December 1989.
ORP II will involve the repatriation of non-refugees who were already in Hong Kong before the announcement of
the ORP on 29 October 1991.
ORP procedures in accordance with international practice for the return of illegal immigrants. Screening
monitored by UNHCR who have mandate to declare anybody a
refugee at any stage of the process.
Only 7 new arrivals so far in 1992. Camp population
fallen from 64,000 (September 1991) to under 55,000
(May 1992). Over 18,000 voluntary repatriations since programme begun. Our objective to clear camps in 3 years.
First ORP II planned for late June/early July.