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MDHIAN 2105
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) AS FROM 16 JUNE HONG KONG WILL ADOPT A NEW POLICY. BOAT PEOPLE
ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM WILL BE TREATED AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS UNLESS THROUGH PROCESS OF SCREEING IT IS ESTABLISHED THAT THEY
ARE GENUINE REFUGEES. SCREEING WILL FOLLOW UNHCR GUIDELINES.
UNHCR WILL BE ABLE TO CHECK THESE PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED. ALSO
WILL BE INVOLVED IN APPEALS.
(G) GENUINE REFUGEES WILL BE ACCOMMODATED INITIALLY IN CLOSED
CAMPS WITH OTHER REFUGEES ALREADY HERE. OVER TIME, CONDITIONS IN
THESE CAMPS WILL BE LIBERALISED. NON-REFUGEES WILL BE HELD AS
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITHOUT ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT PENDING
REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM WHEN THIS IS POSSIBLE.
(H) AS MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRY/MEMBER OF ICG, WISH YOU TO KNOW
ABOUT POLICY IN ADVANCE. IMPORTANT TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL: OTHERWISE
WILL PRECIPITATE EXODUS OF THOSE TRYING TO BEAT DEADLINE.
(I) IMPORTANT TO GET MESSAGE ACROSS THAT POLICY CHANGED TO PREVENT
CONTINUING OUTFLOW OF THOSE HOPING TO BE TREATED AS REFUGEES.
GRATEFUL FOR HELP WITH PUBLICITY ON VOICE OF AMERICA/RADIO
AUSTRALIA.
(J) WITH CHANGE OF POLICY, IMPORTANT TO SHOW HONG KONG THAT THOSE TREATED AS REFUGEES UP TO NOW (IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AT 1979 GENEVA CONFERENCE) AND THOSE SCREENED IN AS
REFUGEES IN FUTURE WILL BE RESETTLED. HOPE YOU WILL JOIN IN MAJOR
EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THIS.
(K) HOPE YOU WILL ALSO JOIN/SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PERSUADE VIETNAM
THAT THEY MUST ACCEPT BACK THOSE WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO EMIGRATE
ILLEGALLY. PROBLEM AFFECTING ALL SOUTH EAST ASIA. DEPARTURE AND
SETTLEMENT SHOULD ONLY BE BY SAFE AND LEGAL MEANS I.E. ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME.
BACKGROUND NOTE
A. NUMBER OF ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
ARRIVALS
DEPARTURES
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