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But they expressed concern in their Aide Memoire about the low rate of "screening-in", and about detention conditions for asylum-seekers
in the camps.
The Aide Memoire also raised a number of specific
procedural concerns.
4.
The Hong Kong Government's response is conciliatory and
constructive in tone. In particular, it reaffirms the Hong Kong
Government's desire to cooperate closely with UNHCR in operating the
screening procedures in accordance with agreed guidelines and in
rectifying any apparent shortcomings. The Hong Kong Government's
reply incorporates a number of our drafting suggestions, most of
which were designed to ensure that UNHCR's specific concerns were
properly addressed, including the point about detention conditions
which was raised by Mr Dewey with Mr Eggar on 9 February.
5.
UNHCR's decision to set out its concerns formally in an Aide
Memoire is a potentially unhelpful development which could undermine
the fragile international consensus on our screening policy. It
could also have adverse effects here, particularly in view of recent press reports about forcible repatriation. So far the Hong Kong
Government has succeeded in keeping the temperature down and details
of the UNHCR Aide Memoire do not appear to have leaked to the press.
But we must clearly keep a close eye on developments.
6. Mr Hocke's initial reaction to the Hong Kong Government reply,
was positive. It is possible that Mr Hocke might refer briefly to
the reply when he meets Mr Patten privately in London this
afternoon. We have given Mr Patten some defensive briefing.
The Hongkong government
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