CONFIDENTIAL
MKD 243/8
885
044417
MDHIAN 8452
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3926
OF 21115OZ OCTOBER 88
my
TOP COPY O DIST ?
INFO IMMEDIATE PARIS, HANOI, BANGKOK, UKMIS GENEVA
PARIS FOR GOVERNOR
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: RESULTS OF THE SCREENING PROCESS
1. THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMPLETED ITS SCREEING PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING THE STATUS OF 48 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG AFTER JUNE 15, 1988.
OF THE GROUP SCREENED, SEVEN PEOPLE WERE FOUND TO BE REFUGEES. THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO A REFUGEE CAMP PRIOR TO RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS.
THE OTHER 41, WERE FOUND NOT TO BE REFUGEES. THEY WILL BE HELD IN DETENTION CENTRES PENDING REPATRIATION TO VIETNAM.
''DETERMINATION NOTICES HAVE BEEN SERVED ON THE 48 BOAT PEOPLE TODAY BY IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT STAFF AT THE CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
''THESE PEOPLE FOUND NOT TO BE REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THEIR RIGHT TO APPEAL UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS THEIR RIGHT TO LEGAL ADVICE IN PREPARING THEIR APPEAL.
''THE UNHCR WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT LEGAL ADVICE IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL THOSE WHO NEED IT.'
PROCEDURES WERE BASED
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SCREENING ON THE UNHCR PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING REFUGEE STATUS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE 1951 CONVENTION AND THE 1967 PROTOCOL, AND TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE SPECIAL SITUATION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM VIETNAM.
''STAFF OF THE UNHCR WERE PRESENT DURING SOME OF THE INTERVIEWS AS OBSERVERS'', HE SAID.
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