TNAG-2062-FCO40-2940-Vietnamese-boat-people-repatriation-1990 — Page 105

CONFIDENTIAL #2

CONSULTATION WITH UNHCR

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20

We intend to consult UNHCR on our

proposed

strategy for the screening of new arrivals, and to seek

their cooperation.

PUBLIC REACTION

܂

1:

21

strategy

Locally, widespread support is expected for a

which would quickly and regularly repatriate all

VBP found to be non-refugees. This may however raise

false hopes, as an agreement on large scale repatriation

has yet to be reached with Vietnam and it is possible

that the numbers arriving will be too great to allow them

all to be repatriated swiftly. Some further calls for an

end to the port-of-first-asylum policy may be expected

and there could be criticism of apparently allowing long

staying VBP to remain at the expense of new arrivals.

Funding for the strategy will attract public attention

and some calls can be expected for all costs to be borne

by HMG or the international community. The general

public view on whether Hong Kong should pay depends on

see the strategy as a final solution to the

whether

they

VBP problem.

1

GF 323

CONFIDENTIAL #

機密

16

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