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771
054042
MDHIAN 2775
CONFIDENTIAL
HKD 243/8
-9SCP
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 08140OZ FCO
TELNO 3344
OF 08123OZ SEPTEMBER 88
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S
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA, PEKING, HANOI, WASHINGTON, KUALA LUMPUR INFO IMMEDIATE BANGKOK
770
MIPT : VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE : DISCUSSIONS WITH UNHCR
STATEMENT OF AN UNDERSTANDING REACHED BETWEEN THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT AND UNHCR CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS
ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG
1. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE HEAVY BURDEN PLACED UPON THE TERRITORY BY THE SUDDEN INFLUX OF PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM, ALL REFUGEES WILL BE TREATED ACCORDING TO ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND WILL HAVE ACCESS TO RESETTLEMENT. IT FURTHER REAFFIRMS ITS UNDERTAKING THAT THE
PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINATION OF REFUGEE STATUS WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 1951 CONVENTION AND 1967 PROTOCOL RELATING TO THE STATUS
OF REFUGEES AND UNHCR GUIDELINES. IT FURTHER REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO TREAT THOSE ASYLUM SEEKERS DETERMINED BY THIS
PROCEDURE NOT TO BE REFUGEES IN A HUMANE AND DIGNIFIED MANNER
PENDING THEIR SAFE REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM. THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT SATISFACTORY
CONDITIONS OF ACCOMMODATION ARE PROVIDED FOR ALL VIETNAMESE AS AND WHEN RESOURCES ALLOW.
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THE UNHCR WHILE EXPRESSING ITS UNDERSTANDING OF THE ADMINIS- TRATIVE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, DECLARES ITS CONCERN FOR AND INTEREST IN THE FATE OF ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING
FROM VIETNAM. IN PURSUIT OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY THE UNHCR AFFIRMS
ITS READINESS TO ASSIST IN THE CARE OF ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS IN HONG
KONG AND TO PARTICIPATE BY MONITORING THE PROCEDURES (INCLUDING THE APPEALS PROCEDURES) FOR THE DETERMINATION OF REFUGEE STATUS, ORDER TO ADVISE THE HKG ON MEASURES NECESSARY TO FULFILL ITS
UNDERTAKING TO ABIDE BY ESTABLISHED AND ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
IN
3. THE TWO SIDES WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS ANY MATTER WHICH CONCERNS
THE TREATMENT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM IN HONG KONG.
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