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*cases
ensure adequate medical screening and treatment before departure. ICM had had recent discussions with the Vietnamese Government concerning certain problems in implementing the medical screening programme. ICM had not yet been able to establish medical screening procedures similar to those in the other countries in the region. Of particular concern were a large number of Vietnamese who needed medical treatment in Bangkok, many of whom were very ill and had needed hospitalisation. One had died in Bangkok.
20. ICM were not able to arrange for the transport of people who were ill. Certain governments had asked ICM to set up
new procedures for medical screening in Vietnam to ensure that ODP applicants arrived in the receiving country in good health. ICM were continuing their discussions with the Vietnamese authorities, including a meeting they had held that morning (3) November).
Vietnamese Reply
21. In reply, Mr Vo Van Sung stated that he had noted that some receiving countries had requested an increase in ODP numbers and he would be looking at the lists given by Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Ireland and Belgium. He had also noted the suggestions made by other receiving countries.
22.
Mr Vo Van Sung said that the Vietnamese delegation would continue to have meetings with certain countries after this joint meeting, to discuss specific matters, and he would also like to continue discussions in Hanoi and in our capitals.
23. Mr Vo Van Sung then referred to the comment made by the UK on voluntary repatriation. He referred to the Vietnamese Ambassador's statement made at the 37th EXCOM and said that voluntary repatriation was not possible at this time, However, in the immediate future, Vietnam would like to process*on a case by case basis: if the UK or any other country has such a case, Vietnam would like to see if it could be processed. In the UK's case, such processing would be done through the Vietnamese Embassy in London and the British Embassy in Hanoi.
24.
Mr Vo Van Sung then concentrated on the backlog of Vietnamese who had already been interviewed but not accepted for departures and on the psychological position of these people. This was a huge problem for Vietnam and if the situation continued like this these people would probably decide to leave illegally. Some countries were not paying proper attention to the backlog problem. Vietnam had agreed that the ODP could be set up for humanitarian reasons and it was not correct to create more
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