TNAG-1793-FCO40-2553-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 297

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MDHOAN 7525

ECONOMIC REASONS AND WHO DO NOT MEET REFUGEE CRITERIA SHOULD BE

RETURNED TO VIETNAM, SUBJECT TO SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN. WE HAVE TAKEN CAREFUL NOTE OF THE OTTAWA

MEETING OF THE ICG IN APRIL AND OF THE GUIDANCE PAPER WHICH

EMERGED FROM THAT MEETING. WE WISH TO ENSURE THAT ANY CHANGE IN

POLICY SHOULD DETER NON-REFUGEES FROM LEAVING VIETNAM WHILE ENBLING

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 MAY 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 LIBERILISED OVER

TIME.

(I) THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT WILL BE HELD AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WHEN ARRANGEMENTS FOR

THEIR

FOR THOSE

RETURN, UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS, HAVE BEEN AGREED WITH VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES.ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS

SCREENED OUT WILL BE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALREADY IN EFFECT IN THE.

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 WHO REACH HONG KONG ARE PROPERLY

PROTECTED.

(K) WE AND THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ARE MOST GRATEFUL TO YOU

FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND THE UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO

THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE

REASONS FOR THIS CHANGE IN POLICY, AND THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

SUPPORT IT PUBLICLY.

(L) A CRITICAL COMPONENT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW POLICY

WILL BE PERSUADING THE VIETNAMESE TO ACCEPT BACK THOSE WHO ARE

NOT REFUGEES UNDER SUITABLE SAFEGUARDS FOR THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN. WE HAVE FOUND THE DISCUSSIONS IN ICG MOST HELPFUL ON THIS

POINT. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PRESS THE

VIETNAMESE ON THIS AND TO PERSUADE OTHERS (PARTICULARLY ASEAN) OF

ITS IMPORTANCE.WE WILL BE DOING LIKEWISE. THIS IS A PROBLEM

THAT AFFECTS ALL SOUTH EAST

ASIA.

DEPARTURE AND SETTLEMENT SHOULD ONLY BE BY SAFE AND LEGAL

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