TNAG-1843-FCO40-2618-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 134

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

ARPARQ (4)

3. Repatriation

WHEN WILL REPATRIATION BEGIN?

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Agreed with Vietnam to start with those who have asked to go back. They are all interviewed by UNHCR before their details are passed to Vietnam.

About 300 outstanding applications to return to Vietnam. First batch of about 75 returned on 2 March. Reports suggest that their return has gone smoothly so far.

WILL THERE BE FORCIBLE REPATRIATION?

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We hope that success of the UNHCR voluntary repatriation programme will encourage others to volunteer to go back.

Not talking about compulsory repatriation at this stage. But now generally accepted that all except genuine refugees should go back, once satisfactory arrangements for this have been made in

consultation with the Vietnamese authorities.

REPATRIATION POLICY IS INHUMANE.

Those screened out as non-refugees have no prospect of resettlement. Cannot stay indefinitely in detention centres in Hong Kong. Their future lies in Vietnam. Must be right to work for

acceptable arrangements for this.

VIETNAM WILL NOT TAKE BACK NON VOLUNTEERS

Vietnamese have agreed that "persons determined not to be

refugees should return to their country of origin in accordance with international practices reflecting the responsibilities of states towards their own citizens".

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