TNAG-1527-FCO40-2091-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 28

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5. On 10 April 1986, UNHCR was informed of the 9 April 1986 landing on Calayan Island of 55 persons purporting to be Vietnamese refugees arriving directly from Viet Nam. the age and sex breakdown perfectly fit that of the 55 suspected

However, ex-China cases who had recently passed by Hong Kong. Therefore, the 55 persons arriving in the Philippines on Calayan were suspected of being ex-China cases.

6.

Before requesting MFA authority to collect these 55 persons (if they were determined to be genuine first-asylum refugees) from Aparri (where they had been transferred and placed under the care of the Coast Guard), UNHCR decided to visit Aparri and personally interview them. The UNHCR Representative, accompanied by a trilingual interpreter, went to Aparri 18-19 April 1986. En route, UNHCR stopped in Tuguegarau

to brief the Governor' S Office and the PC of the likelihood of these 55 being from China and therefore not genuine first-asylum refugees.

7.

After review, UNHCR found that the list of names 55,

as prepared by the Coast Guard in Aparri, perfectly matched

of the the list of names of the 55 VNDPs who had recently passed by Hong Kong. Based on interviews with members of both sub-groups, conducted by UNHCR in the presence of Lt. C. Pagador, Acting Station Commander of the Coast Guard in Aparri, and corroborated by additional information from Hong Kong authorities, both sub-groups were confirmed as coming from permanent resettlement in China (ex-China) and therefore ineligible for refugee status in the Philippines or further resettlement (MNL/6309 dated 21 April 1986, will be handed to Deputy Minister Ingles on 22 April 1986).

8. Therefore, the Government of the Philippines is solely responsible for the further transfer and disposition of Gp 55 Aparri and for bilaterally arranging with the PRC Embassy in Manila any subsequent return to China or their permanent resettlement in the Philippines. UNHCR will respectfully suggest that the Government include resolution of the problem of the other 93 ex-China cases already in the Philippines in any upcoming discussions with the PRC Embassy in Manila.

g.

During his return from Aparri, the UNHCR Representative also visited PC, Coast Guard and local civilian authorities in Bangui, Laoag, Port Currimao, and San Fernando (La Union) to brief them on the problem of additional ex-China cases coming to the Philippines in 1986 and of UNHCR policies regarding such

arrivals.

Accgage By

GREGG A.

BEYER

UNHCR Representative in the Philippines