TNAG-1793-FCO40-2553-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 33

non-existent.

The UNHCR are able to monitor the

screening procedures to ensure that they are carried out

fairly. They can also assist appelants who wish to

appeal against screening decisions.

Those who are found not to be genuine refugees will

be detained as illegal immigrants pending their eventual

return to Vietnam. We hope that when individuals in this

position recognise that they have no prospect of

resettlement they will of their own accord elect to

return to Vietnam. But in any case in pressing the

Vietnamese authorities to agree to the repatriation of

ing non-refugees we will insist on satisfactory assurances

that repatriated persons will be humanely treated on

their return.

are

You suggest that the implementation of the new

procedures should first have been discussed within the

framework of a UN Conference. Given the pressure of

large numbers of arrivals in Hong Kong over the recent

months and the dwindling resettlement prospects for the

very large majority of them, I believe that it was right

to introduce the new measures with the minimum of delay.