TNAG-1977-FCO40-2810-Arrivals-figures-and-procedures-for-Vietnamese-refugees-in-H-1989 — Page 93

CONFIDENTIAL

043366

MDHOAN 0598

IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROGRAMME OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES.

(D) THE CPA PROVIDES FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF UNHCR AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES PENDING THEIR EVENTUAL RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THIS MIGHT BE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE PACKAGE OF SOLUTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE ICIR, AND WORK TO EVALUATE THIS OPTION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.

FIRST

(E) WE BELIEVE THE ICIR PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER. THE CPA IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD. IT PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR A BALANCED PACKAGE OF COMPLEMENTARY COMMITMENTS BY ALL PARTICIPANTS. WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS TO DATE ON FLESHING OUT THE CPA THROUGH PREPARATORY MEETINGS ON SCREENING AND RESETTLEMENT. IT IS GENERALLY AGREED THAT FURTHER PREPARATORY WORK IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE ICIR IS A SUCCESS (CF AGREEMENT ON THE NEED FOR A THIRD MEETING OF THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE LATER THIS MONTH). IN PARTICULAR, WE BELIEVE FURTHER WORK MUST BE DONE ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR NON-REFUGEES.

(F) THE PROBLEM IS THAT HONG KONG, AND OTHER PLACES OF ASYLUM, VIEW WITH GREAT CONCERN AND ALARM THE PROSPECT OF ACCOMMODATING A SUBSTANTIAL AND EVER-INCREASING BACKLOG OF NON-REFUGEES ON AN INDEFINITE BASIS. EFFECTIVE MEASURES WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN TO MEET THESE CONCERNS, OTHERWISE THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST ASYLUM THROUGHOUT THE REGION MAY COME UNDER THREAT. (G) VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS OUR PREFERRED OPTION, BUT RESULTS HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING. ONLY 75 HAVE BEEN REPATRIATED SO FAR, AND ONLY A FEW HUNDRED HAVE APPLIED, MANY OF WHOM HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS. IT IS CLEAR THAT VOLUNTARY RETURNS ALONE ARE UNLIKELY TO PROVIDE THE COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION WE ALL SEEK. THE ALTERNATIVES ENVISAGED IN THE DRAFT CPA WILL THEREFORE NEED TO BE

CONSIDERED BEFORE THE ICIR.

(H) (DEFENSIVE) NONE OF THE ARRIVALS SINCE JUNE 1988 HAVE YET BEEN FINALLLY SCREENED OUT (ALL THOSE DETERMINED NOT TO BE REFUGEES DURING THE INTIAL SCREENING PROCESS HAVE SO FAR APPEALED AND NONE OF THE APPEALS HAVE YET BEEN DECIDED). THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN EXAMINING WAYS OF SPEEDING UP THE LENGTHY SCREENING AND APPEALS PROCEDURES IN CONSULTATION WITH UNHCR. THIS

REVIEW IS CLOSE TO COMPLETION.

HOWE

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