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012604 MDHIAN 9338
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BE AVAILABLE TO THE UNHCR FOR RESETTLEMENT PROCESSING. VIETNAMESE SCREENED OUT AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (VIIS) WOULD BE PLACED IN DETENTION CENTRES WITHOUT ACCESS TO UNHCR FOR RESETTLEMENT PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM GIVEN THE TIME CONSTRAINT, A TEMPORARY CENTRE WITH BASIC FACILITIES WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THE VIIS
IN THE FROM THE TIME WHEN THE NEW POLICY COMES INTO OPERATION. LONGER TERM IT IS INTENDED THAT VIIS SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH OTHER FACILITIES (E.G. SOCIAL WELFARE/RECREATIONAL FACILITIES) OF A STANDARD COMPARABLE TO THOSE IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS OPERATED BY THE CORRECTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE POSSIBILITY OF USING EXISTING CLOSED CAMPS SUCH AS HEI LING CHAU AS DETENTION CENTRES FOR THE VIIS IS BEING EXAMINED. THERE WOULD BE PROVISION FOR APPEAL AGAINST THE REFUSAL TO GRANT REFUGEE STATUS. DETAILS OF THE SCREE- NING AND APPEAL PROCEDURE TOGETHER WITH A DETAILED PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGE IN POLICY WILL BE SUBMITTED TO MEMBERS
LATER.
EXISTING
LOOKING
16. AS PART OF THE NEW POLIYC, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE CLOSED CENTRES SHOULD BE LIBERALISED AND PLACED UNDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNHCR. GRADUALLY OVER A PERIOD OF 6 TO 12 MONTHS, AS THE CLOSED CENTRE REFUGEES ARE DEEMED CAPABLE OF AFTER THEMSELVES, THEY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO AN OPEN CENTRE ENVIRONMENT AND ALLOWED TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS MAY HELP TO SECURE THE CO-OPERATION OF THE UNHCR FOR THE NEW REFUGEE POLICY. IT WILL ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE FINANCIAL
ΤΟ COMMITMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT ON REFUGEE MAINTENANCE. HOWEVER, AVOID THE RELAXATION OF CLOSED CENTRE BEING MISINTERPRETED BY THE PEOPLE IN VIETNAM, THEREBY UNDERMINING THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NEW REFUGEE POLICY, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A LAPSE OF AT LEAST 6 MONTHS BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW POLICY AND THE OPENING UP OF REFUGEE CENTRES. SUCH A DELAY WOULD ALSO BE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE TIME TO ACCUSTOM THE INMATES TO THE PROSPECT OF LIFE IN AN OPEN CAMP.
17. INTERNATIONALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS THE RESETTLEMENT
BEEN ALLOWED TO STAY COUNTRIES TO RESETTLE THE VIETNAMESE WHO HAVE IN HONG KONG AS REFUGEES. THE LONGER-TERM, DURABLE SOLUTION OF REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WILL ALSO BE PURSUED WITH VOGOR.
18. THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THIS OPTION WOULD BE GRATER THAN THE CURRENT POLICY. HOWEVER ARRIVALS MIGHT CONTINUE TO HOPE THAT A SUITABLY FRAMED STORY WOULD STILL SUCCEED IN OBTAINING REFUGEE STATUS. II MIGHT THEREFORE
NOT HAVE THE DESIRED EFFECT OF IMMEDIATELY DRASTICALLY REDUCING THE RATE OF ARRIVALS. THERE WOULD ALSO BE
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