TNAG-1794-FCO40-2554-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 207

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U.S. GOVERNMENT STATEMENT, JUNE 17, 1988, CONCERNING THE SCREENING OF VIETNAMESE ARRIVALS IN HONG KONG

The sharply increased exodus of persons from Vietnam is threatening the willingness of Hong Kong and countries in Southeast Asia to continue the practice of granting asylum to all who seek it.

The British Government has informed all interested Governments and Organizations that:

(1)

(2)

(3)

asylum will continue to be granted to all who seek it in Hong Kong;

screening for the purpose of determining refugee status will be accessible to all asylum seekers and will be conducted under standards acceptable to and monitored by the international community through its representative, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);

all asylum seekers who are determined not to have a valid claim of refugee status as provided for in the UN Convention will be housed in humane and safe holding centers.

In view of these firm assurances that the new policy will be implemented in a reasonable and responsible manner, the United States understands the action which the British and Hong Kong authorities have concluded they must take in order to preserve first asylum for refugees.

We would expect that the screening program would apply UNHCR's current criteria for determination of refugee status for Vietnamese boat people and that the Vietnamese would be informed of their right to seek refugee status. We would be prepared to support the action of the British and Hong Kong authorities in that case.