CONFIDENTIAL
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"HKD 24379 MED
050001
MDHIAN 3791
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1460
OF 09070OZ MAY 89
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YOUR TELNOS 813 AND 965: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: BRITISH REFUGEE COUNCIL
WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE PAPER SUBMITTED BY THE COUNCIL TO THE FAC.
SCREENING PROCEDURE
2"
ASYLUM SEEKERS ATTENDING SCREENING INTERVIEWS ARE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THEIR CLAIM. A QUESTIONNAIRE AGREED WITH UNHCR IS USED FOR THE INTERVIEW IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE ALL RELEVANT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED AND ANSWERS TO THEM RECORDED. FURTHERMORE, THE FACT THAT EACH INTERVIEW TAKES AN AVERAGE OF 4 HOURS IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF ITS THOROUGHNESS. WE SEE NO NEED FOR ADVANCE NOTIFICATION, NOR REPRESENTATION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS AT THE INTERVIEW.
3. INTERPRETERS RECRUITED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR SCREENING INTERVIEWS MUST PASS A PROFICIENCY TEST. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE HAVE IN OUR EMPLOYMENT SOME OF THE BEST VIETNAMESE INTERPRETERS AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG. WE AGREE WITH UNHCR THAT WE SHOULD AIM AT ACHIEVING CONSISTENCY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, AND WE ARE PREPARING IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNHCR A GLOSSARY OF TERMS FREQUENTLY USED IN SCREENING INTERVIEWS. WHEN READY, THE GLOSSARY WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ENSURUING CONSISTENCY IN INTERPRETATION.
4.
THE EXTENT OF MONITORING OF THE SCREENING PROCESS IS A MATTER FOR UNHCR TO CONSIDER. WE ARE NOT/NOT AWARE OF ANY UNHCR DIFFICULTIES IN PERFORMING THEIR MONITORING ROLE.
APPEALS PROCEDURE
5. THE APPEALS PROCEDURE HAS BEEN DESIGNED IN CONSULTATION WITH UNHCR TO ENSURE THAT ASYLUM SEEKERS HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO RESTATE THEIR CASE. IT PROVIDES FOR ASSISTANCE FROM APPEALS COUNSELLORS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE PREPARATION OF THEIR WRITTEN GROUNDS OF APPEAL. UNHCR HAS UNDERTAKEN
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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