TNAG-1853-FCO40-2628-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 27

Voluntary Returns

How many have volunteered?

How many still in the pipeline? What is

being done to encourage more people to volunteer and to ensure that volunteers are returned quickly to Vietnam?

Number of volunteers repatriated

627

Number of non volunteers repatriated

51

Number of volunteers in pipeline

926

We and Hong Kong Government continuing to give full support to voluntary repatriation programme. Trying to encourage more people to

volunteer by

counselling in camps by UNHCR, NGOs and Hong Kong Government

officials.

-

moving volunteers to separate camp (Lo Wu)

forward.

as

soon as they come

trying to improve feedback in camps about conditions of those who have already returned to Vietnam.

Vietnamese Government has already indicated willingness to take back boat people at faster rate. UNHCR has already booked another 2 flights for voluntary returnees this month.

BATACM