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DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)
all boat people arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam have
been subject to a screening procedure, approved by the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to
determine whether they qualify as genuine refugees.
order so to qualify, new arrivals must be able to present
a case of a well-founded fear of persecution. Those who
In
do qualify are moved to refugee centres to await
resettlement overseas. Those who do not have no access
It is clear that their future lies in
to resettlement.
Vietnam and that it is right to work for acceptable
arrangments for their return including satisfactory
safeguards for their treatment in Vietnam. Such
arrangements are in line with international policy that
all illegal immigrants, whichever country they come from,
should be repatriated as soon as possible.
48. Hong Kong has adopted internationally established
procedures for determining refugee status, in line with
the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to
the status of refugees of the UNHCR. The Hong Kong
Government and the UNHCR have concluded a Statement of
Understanding on the establishment and monitoring of the
screening and appeals procedure. A scheme for the
provision of legal advice has been arranged by UNHCR to
assist boat people to prepare appeals against decisions
to refuse them refugee status. In 1988 the British
Government made a contribution of £l million towards the
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