CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 2+3/9.
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2184
OF 01063OZ JULY 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS GENEVA
(32
065032
MDHIAN 1583
TOP COPY Q DISTa
-
RESIDENT CLERK PLEASE PASS TO PS/SECRETARY OF STATE BEFORE
DEPARTURE FOR HK, AND TO HKD
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE :
REPATRIATION
WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT UNHCR INTEND TO START THEIR REPATRIATION COUNSELLING WORK ON 3 JULY AT THE CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE. THE FIRST GROUP TO RECEIVE ADVICE ON THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME WILL BE THE 26 WHOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED AND WHOSE NAMES WERE PASSED TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES LAST WEEK. ALTHOUGH WE MIGHT FIND THAT SOME OF THE 26 DECIDE TO OPT FOR THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION SCHEME, THEREBY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE FIRST GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS, WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT/NOT ATTEMPT TO DENY UNHCR ACCESS TO THESE PEOPLE.
2. UNDER SECTION 4A(1) OF THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING UNHCR HAVE FULL ACCESS TO ALL CATEGORIES OF ASYLUM SEEKERS INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FINALLY SCREENED OUT. TO DENY ACCESS TO THE 26 WOULD BREACH THE STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND RUN COUNTER TO THE PLANS FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AGREED AT THE ICIR. ALTHOUGH OUR IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET A FIRST GROUP OF NON-VOLUNTEERS BACK TO VIETNAM QUICKLY WE DO NOT OF COURSE WISH TO ACHIEVE THIS AT THE EXPENSE OF JEOPARDISING UNHCR CO-OPERATION ON SCREENING, POST RETURN MONITORING AND REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE, AND VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. WE HAVE THEREFORE GIVEN UNHCR AUTHORITY TO PROCEED WITH THEIR COUNSELLING WORK. THE TEAM TO VISIT CHI MA WAN WILL BE BY UNHCR OFFICIALS (NOT/NOT VOLUNTARY AGENCY WORKERS) AND WE BELIEVE THEY CAN BE TRUSTED TO ACT RESPONSIBLY. WE AIM TO HAVE A SECURITY BRANCH
OFFICIAL PRESENT DURING THE INTERVIEWS.
WILSON
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