XN000022-1989-11-29 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1989

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"IT WOULD BE A DELUSION TO EXPECT ALL THESE PEOPLE ΤΟ VOLUNTEER TO 'RETURN AND ALSO A DELUSION TO BELIEVE THAT IF THE ONLY ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE FOR RETURNING NON-REFUGEES TO VIETNAM WERE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. PEOPLE IN VIETNAM WOULD STOP SETTING OUT IN A FRUITLESS ATTEMPT TO SEEK NEW LIVES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

"INDEED, SINCE THE .. AGREEMENT ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WAS SIGNED BETWEEN THE UNHCR AND THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES IN DECEMBER 1988, OVER 34,000 BOAT PEOPLE HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS THEREFORE LEFT WITH INVOLUNTARY, OR MANDATORY, REPATRIATION AND SAW THIS AS BEING ENCOMPASSED BY THE CPA AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE, HE SAID.

"IT IS THE LQUICAL OUTCOME OF THE SCREENING PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS NON-REFUGEES AND WHO DO NOT VOLUNTEER то RETURN.

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"IN THIS VIEW WE ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WHO SEE THE RETURN OF NON-REFUGEES TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AS BEING IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS THE DEPORTATION OF ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANTS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, HE SAID.

"THE ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH THEY WILL BE RETURNED WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS BEING THAT WE SHALL ENSURE. ARRANGEMENTS FOR RE-INTEGRATION ASSISTANCE, MONITORING AFTER THEIR RETURN AND ASSURANCES OF NON-PERSECUTION OF RETURNEES FROM THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.

"WE SEE MANDATORY REPATRIATION AS

BEING COMPLEMENTARY TO VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. AND FOR BOTH MODES CONTINUING IN PARALLEL WITH EACH OTHER.

"WE BELIEVE THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION WILL NOT ONLY ACT TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GENUINE POLITICAL REFUGEES FROM SETTING OUT FROM VIETNAM BUT WILL ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE INTO VOLUNTEERING TO GO BACK TO VIETNAM, HE SAID.

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS NOW WORKING, WITH THE FULL, SUPPORT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, TOWARDS ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO ESTABLISH A REPATRIATION PROGRAMME, MR BARNES SAID, ADDING THAT DETAILED ARRANGMENTS HAD NOT YET BEEN CONCLUDED.

IN THE LONGER TERM, MR BARNES SAID, THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS INVOLVED MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES, SUCH AS INTERNAL CHANGES IN VIETNAM AND THE CREATION OF LIVING CONDITIONS THERE WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE INCENTIVE FOR DEPARTU

DEPARTURES

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'IN SHORT AN ECONOMIC REVIVAL IS REQUIRED. THE QUICKER THIS ACHIEVED THE QUICKER WE SHALL SEE THE CREATION OF LIVING CONDITIONS WHICH WILL NOT PROPEL VIETNAMESE OUTWARDS FROM THEIR OWN COUNTRY,' MR BARNES SAID.

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