TNAG-1274-FCO40-1624-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 64

TEXT:

FILE REF. 600.HKG

TECHNICALLY MAKE AN INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATION OF REFUGEE STATUS POSSIBLE. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN CERTAIN CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION

OF THE INFLUX. THERE ARE NOT YET ANY CLEAR REPEAT CLEAR INDICATIONS THAT VIETNAMESE ARE GENERALLY ABLE TO RETURN HOME AND THAT THEY MIGHT NOT BE EXPOSED TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IN THE EVENT OF RETURN. WE ARE OF COURSE AWARE THAT A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE HAVE REPATRIATED BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRAW ANY GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

FROM THIS LIMITED EXPERIENCE.

QUARTO: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROCEDURE OF THE TYPE SUGGESTED WOULD THEREFORE PRESUPPOSE OBTAINING THE NECESSARY ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES AS TO THE FOSSIBILITY OF RETURN AND THE SAFETY OF RETURNEES AS AN ESSENTIAL PRE-REQUISITE TO THE INITIATION OF THE EXERCISE AND TO A DISCUSSION OF THE MODALITIES OF TEE

SUGGESTED PROCEDURE.

QUINTO: ON THIS UNDERSTANDING WE WOULD CERTAINLY BE PREPARED TO EXAMINE THE SUGGESTION FURTHER AFTER HAVING DULY ASCERTAINED THE

VIEWS OF THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.

HCR/ADM/402

UMICA GENEVA

16 Dec. 83