TNAG-1789-FCO40-2549-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1989 — Page 67

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that returnees would be treated humanely, would not be punished, and

would be monitored after their return by UNHCR. The fact was that

for non-refugees the future lay in Vietnam. We were making our best

efforts to ensure that such people could return to Vietnam under the

best possible circumstances. We were making a start with those who

wished to return, under a UNHCR programme which included monitoring

in Vietnam.

3.

Miss Min Phuoc said that the delegation spoke on behalf of the

20,000 Vietnamese refugees in the UK. They were most grateful for the hlep given to them by Britain. They felt very strongly about the fate of those now in Hong Kong who faced repatriation. They knew the Vietnamese regime. The previous night's Thames Television

"This Week" programme had shown how those caught trying to leave

Vietnam were punished. They were concerned that those returned to

Vietnam would suffer the same fate. (Miss Min Phuoc did not accept

the assurance given by the Vietnamese Foreign Minister that those

returning would not be punished).

4. A formal prepared statement was then read out on behalf of the

Vietnamese refugee community in the UK. They had noted that

screening results indicated that 80 - 90% of new arrivals would be

screened out under the new policy, and would be forced to return to

the control of the Viet Cong (Sic) They were concerned at the lack of guarantees for the safe return of those screened out. They cited

a case of the crew of a cargo ship who were welcomed back to Vietnam

as heroes when they returned voluntarily in 1975, but were subsequently sent as CIA spies to a re-education centre.

that

They said

(a) those screened out should be afforded safe haven until they

could be safely repatriated, with adequate international guarantees to ensure their protection.

(b)

(c)

they were opposed to "intentionally harsh conditions" in the camps in Hong Kong as a deterrent measure.

if adequate guarantees were available for the safe return of people to their native country, a screening programme with

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