TNAG-1843-FCO40-2618-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 80

accorded to illegal immigrants from China, who are regularly and

promptly repatriated. 21,000 illegal immigrants from China were

repatriated in 1988.

46.

During the past few years the pattern of arrivals in Hong Kong

has also changed. About 70 per cent of recent arrivals are from the

northern part of Vietnam and 99% are ethnic Vietnamese ( (whereas some

80% of arrivals in 1979 were ethnic Chinese). The great majority

are farmers and fishermen. Many of the resettlement countries have raised doubts about whether such people are in fact genuine refugees or simply economic migrants. They were unwilling to continue accepting boat people at anything like the previous rate. In these

circumstances, the recent arrivals were coming on the false premise

that they could be resettled from Hong Kong. It was clear that Hong Kong could no longer be regarded as a staging post to a future that

did not and could not exist.

47.

These new circumstances led the Hong Kong Government, with the

full support of the British Government, to alter their policy. From

16 June 1988, 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. In order so to qualify, new arrivals must be able to present a case of a well-founded fear of

persecution. Those who do qualify are moved to refugee centres to

await resettlement overseas. Those who do not have no access to resettlement. It is clear that their future lies in 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