TNAG-1976-FCO40-2809-Hong-Kong-illegal-immigrants-from-China--originally-Vietname-1989 — Page 17

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authorities to treat these people as having landed in China and to

keep them there until they can go back to Vietnam.

If boat people did not receive help on South China Coast, Hong

Kong would not be facing the problem it does. Need to share burden of tackling this problem. Common interest in solving it well before

1997.

Defensive

(Liberalisation Of Camps)

Not all camps are to be liberalised. Only applies to camps for those who are screened in as refugees, currently less than 10% of

arrivals. Remainder held in detention centres. Liberal camps for

the refugees will enable them to undertake training and thus improve their chances of quick resettlement. Refugee camps could only be liberalised once screening was in place.

(On Mandatory repatriation)

If sufficient action is not taken to deter departures, and more

people do not volunteer to return, International Conference should

be prepared to look at alternatives to voluntary programme. Such

alternatives must have backing of relevant countries and

organisations.

(Policy of first asylum)

Internationally accepted policy agreed at 1979 Conference.

Chinese were there.