CONFIDENTIAL
123666
MDHIAN 4889
WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS GENUINE REFUGEES CAN REMAIN IN HONG KONG UNTIL THEY ARE RESETTLED OVERSEAS. THOSE WHO ARE NOT MUST BE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AS IS THE CASE WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. THEIR REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM MUST OF COURSE BE UNDER CONDITIONS THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE TO US AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
124. IN DECIDING REFUGEE STATUS, WE FOLLOW GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES. IN ADDITION, UNDER A RECENTLY CONCLUDED UNDERSTANDING, UNHCR ARE MONITORING OUR PROCEDURES AND PROVIDING ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO WISH TO APPEAL AGAINST DECISIONS TO REFUSE THEM REFUGEE STATUS. THE UNHCR HAVE ALSO AGREED TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE CARE OF ALL VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, WHATEVER THEIR STATUS.
125. THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF OUR POLICY MUST REMAIN THE SEARCH FOR DURABLE SOLUTIONS. FOR THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED AS ECONOMIC MIGRANTS, THE ONLY SOLUTION IS REPATRIATION AND THIS IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT. WE MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF TALKS IN JULY. THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAS STATED ITS WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH US TO ARRANGE REPATRIATION. WE HOPE TO MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS IN THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS TAKING PLACE IN LONDON THIS WEEK.
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126. FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEFINED AS REFUGEES SOME 15,000 WHO WERE HERE BEFORE MID-JUNE PLUS THOSE FOUND TO BE GENUINE REFUGEES WHO ARRIVED AFTER THAT DATE OUR AIM REMAINS TO FIND RESETTLEMENT PLACES OVERSEAS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR MORE GENEROUS TREATMENT FROM RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES.
127. WHILE WE AWAIT THE RETURN OF ECONOMIC MIGRANTS TO VIETNAM AND THE RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES TO THIRD COUNTRIES, WE MUST CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SHELTER FOR LARGE NUMBERS OF BOAT PEOPLE. WE ARE DOING THIS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY IN THE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES OF A GREATLY INCREASED INFLOW. THIS HAS PLACED A HEAVY BURDEN ON OUR FACILITIES AND ON ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WHO DEAL WITH THE BOAT PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO RUN THE CLOSED CAMPS AND DETENTION CENTRES. ALL CONCERNED HAVE RESPONDED MAGNIFICENTLY TO THE CRISIS. I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO RECORD MY APPRECIATION OF THE WORK OF THE UNHCR AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE WELFARE OF THESE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE.
128.
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AS PART OF THE POLICY CHANGE ANNOUNCED ON 16 JUNE WE UNDERTOOK
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