FCO 40/2553
CONFIDENTIAL
124624
MDHOAN 7942
PEOPLE.
(E) WITH THE SHARP DROP IN RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS AND CONTINUING
SHARP INCREASE OF ARRIVALS (WHICH CAN BE EXPECTED TO ESCALATE
EVEN FURTHER DURING THE SUMMER WITH THE CHANGE TO FAVOURABLE
WINDS), CANNOT SIMPLY PERSIST WITH EXISTING POLICY OF TREATING ALL ARRIVALS AS THOUGH THEY WERE GENUINE REFUGEES.
(F) THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE REVIEWED POLICY OPTIONS IN
CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH HMG. WE ARE BOTH VERY CONSCIOUS OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO GENUINE REFUGEES. FOR SOME TIME NOW IT HAS
BEEN OUR VIEW THAT THOSE THAT LEAVE VIETNAM FOR ESSENTIALLY
ECONOMIC REASONS AND WHO DO NOT MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA SHOULD BE RETURNED TO VIETNAM, SUBJECT TO SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN. WE WISH TO ENSURE THAT ANY CHANGE IN POLICY
SHOULD DETER NON-REFUGEES FROM LEAVING VIETNAM WHILE ENABLING
GENUINE REFUGEES TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ASYLUM AND
RESETTLEMENT.
(G) AFTER MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WE AND THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT HAVE CONCLUDED THAT A NEW POLICY SHOULD BE ADOPTED. IT
WILL TAKE EFFECT ON 16 JUNE. IN ESSENCE THE NEW POLICY WILL
INVOLVE SCREENING OF ARRIVALS UNDER UNHCR GUIDELINES. UNHCR WILL
BE INVITED TO OBSERVE SCREENING PROCEDURES IN ACTION, AND WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN APPEALS. (H)
THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED IN AS REFUGEES WILL BE ACCOMMODATED
IN CLOSED CENTRES WITH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ACCORDED REFUGEE
STATUS UNDER CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
INTEND THAT CONDITIONS IN THESE CAMPS WILL BE
TIME.
(1)
LIBERALISED OVER
THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT WILL BE HELD AS ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WHEN ARRANGEMENTS FOR
THEIR RETURN, UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS, HAVE BEEN AGREED WITH VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. THEY WILL BE ACCOMMODATED IN CLOSED
CENTRES RUN ON SIMILAR LINES TO THE EXISTING CLOSED CENTRES.
(J) WE AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THAT THESE
ARRANGEMENTS WILL PROVIDE A DETERRENT TO THOSE WISHING TO LEAVE
VIETNAM FOR ESSENTIALLY ECONOMIC REASONS, WHILE ENSURING THAT THE RIGHTS OF GENUINE REFUGEES ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED.
(K) WE HOPE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE REASONS FOR THIS CHANGE IN
POLICY AND THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT PUBLICLY.
(L)
AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW POLICY A MAJOR EFFORT TO
RESETTLE THOSE REFUGEES ALREADY IN HONG KONG WILL BE REQUIRED.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCING
THE NUMBERS IN HONG KONG OVER THE MONTHS AHEAD. IN PARTICULAR
NEED SPECIAL EFFORT TO HELP CLEAR THE BACKLOG OF LONGSTAYERS.
(M) WE HOPE YOU WILL HELP TO PERSUADE THE VIETNAMESE TO ACCEPT
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.