BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
Bondway House, 3/9 Bondway, London SW8 1SJ
HONG KONG
The BRC would not necessarily oppose the introduction of a screening procedure for Vietnamese seeking refuge in Hong Kong provided that it was carried out with suitable guarantees and was introduced as part of a package aimed at addressing the problem as a whole.
1.
The procedure should be established in collaboration with UNHCR and ́` there should be an opportunity for those 'screened out' to appeal or have their cases reviewed by UNHCR (as is the case for Lao arriving in Thailand;
2.
An arrangement needs to be made with the Vietnamese Government for those 'screened out' to be accepted back under fully acceptable conditions which guarantee their right to return to their homes and to resume work. The prospect of people rejected in the screening having to spend an indefinite period in detention in Hong Kong is of great concern to the agencies;
3. As an incentive to the Vietnamese Government to cooperate, and as a step towards improving relations with Vietnam, the British Government should consider contributing funds to British voluntary agency projects in Vietnam and to relief and rehabilitation work by UN agencies. (Until now this has been ruled out by the Vietnamese occupation of Kampuchea. However, Vietnam has now announced it will withdraw 50,000 troops this year and all of them by 1990. It is important we contribute towards creating a climate in which a peace settlement in Kampuchea becomes possible.);
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4. For those accepted as refugees through the screening procedure, and for those already in Hong Kong, Britain needs to take the initiative by offering more resettlement places and encouraging Australia, Canada, the United States to follow suit. (British agencies are aware of many families in Hong Kong with relatives in the UK, who are not included in the present quota of 468.).
Martin Barber
16.6.88
AHA
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