TNAG-1907-FCO40-2711-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-voluntary-and-mandatory-repat-1989 — Page 59

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 3606

OF 30113OZ OCTOBER 89

INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI

CONFIDENTIAL

343

125107 MDHIAN 2107

HK B

243 19

MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:

PHOENIX HOUSE/MANDATORY REPATRIATION

PHOENIX HOUSE

·

Q1 WHY HAVE A FURTHER GROUP OF VBP BEEN MOVED TO PHOENIX HOUSE? A1. ́A SERIES OF MOVES BEGAN TODAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AVAILABIL- ITY OF NEW ACCOMMODATION. THERE IS SPARE CAPACITY AT PHOENIX HOUSE AND IT WAS DECIDED TO MOVE IN A FURTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS

HAVE BEEN REJECTED.

Q2. DOES THIS MEAN THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS IMMINENT? A2. PHOENIX HOUSE IS USED TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE WHOSE APPEALS HAVE BEEN REJECTED. 20 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AT PHOENIX HOUSE FOR SIX WEEKS. HOWEVER, THIS MORNING'S MOVEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT THE.IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS IMMINENT. NO AGREEMENT CONCLUDED WITH VIETNAMESE: NO DATE SET FOR THE RETURN OF

THE FIRST GROUP.

Q3. WHY WAS SUCH A LARGE CSD/POLICE PRESENCE NECESSARY?

A3. NECESSARY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF

ALL VBP AT THE CAMP.

Q4. WILL THE GROUP AT PHOENIX HOUSE BE THE FIRST TO BE REPATRIATED?

A4. NO DECISIONS ON REPATRIATION HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS STAGE. THE GROUP AT PHOENIX HOUSE WILL NOW RECEIVE FURTHER UNHCR/HKG COUNSELLING FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.

Q5. HOW WERE THE 50 SELECTED?

A5. THESE PEOPLE ARE AMONGST THE FIRST TO HAVE THEIR APPEALS REJECTED

Q6. WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF PHOENIX HOUSE. WILL MORE BE MOVED?

A6. THE CAPACITY IS ABOUT 80. NO PLANS TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE TO

PHOENIX HOUSE AT THIS TIME.