TNAG-1788-FCO40-2548-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 120

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP Foreign and Commonwealth Office King Charles Street

London SW1

Dear Sir Geoffrey,

BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL

Bondway House 3/9 Bondway London SW8 ISJ Telephone 01-582 6922 Cables BREFCON LONDON SW8

23rd September 1988

Members of the British Refugee Council have been following events in Hong Kong relating to refugees from Vietnam with great interest and concern. meeting of the Asia Committee on 12 September I was asked to write to you.

At a

BRC warmly welcomes the decision to liberalise the conditions of those who arrived in Hong Kong before 16 June 1988. British voluntary agencies will give all possible support to these steps.

In relation to those arriving after 16 June, we are most concerned to ensure:

that the screening procedure is fully in line with UNHCR's recommendations and contains a genuine right of appeal;

that those detained pending screening should have access to services provided by voluntary agencies;

that those whose applications are rejected after a full and fair asylum procedure should not be repatriated against their will unless the Government of Vietnam provides formal guarantees that they will suffer no discrimination on their return, and unless the programme of returns is monitored and assisted by UNHCR.

that the Government should make available funds to UNHCR and to British voluntary agencies for humanitarian work with Vietnamese people.

As an essential part of Britain's support of international efforts to tackle the Indochinese refugee problem, BRC believes it would now be appropriate for the Government to announce a further commitment to resettle refugees from Hong Kong in particular. I am therefore enclosing a paper prepared by the main resettlement agencies with the participation of major community-based organis- ations of refugees from Vietnam, and approved by BRC's Executive Council, which BRC's Chairman, Lord Chitnis, is today also forwarding to the Home Secretary. (copy attached).

We very much hope that the Government will be able to approve this proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Рашевния

Lord Ennals

Encs

Chairman Lord Chitnis

Vice Chairman Sir Leslie Kirkley CBE

Vice Chairman and Honorary Treasurer H A Shaw OBE

Director Martin Barber Ph.D

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