RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 17140OZ FCO
TELNO 226
OF 17115OZ JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE HANOI
RESTRICTED
HK B
24315
RECEIVED IN KE
STRY
05 FEB 1990
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
RA
47
024350
MDHIAN 2811
TOP COPY
Action Taken ODIST ?
YOUR TELNO 175: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: ENNALS/RAISON REPORT
1. OUR COMMENTS ON THE ACCOUNT OF THE INTERVIEWS AND THE ANALYSIS
OF THEM IN THE REPORT ARE AS FOLLOWS :
A. (PARA 30 OF THE REPORT) WE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO SUGGESTION THAT ANY OF THOSE REPATRIATED LEFT VIETNAM AS A RESULT OF PERSECUTION THERE. THIS VINDICATES OUR SCREENING AND REVIEW PROCEDURES, IN WHICH WE HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE.
B. (PARA 31) WE REGRET THAT, DUE TO AN OVERSIGHT, WAGES FOR WORK DONE IN THE CAMPS WERE NOT PAID TO ALL RETURNEES BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURE, BUT WE UNDERSTAND HANOI HAS NOW PUT THIS RIGHT, OR IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO. WE WILL NOT/NOT OVERLOOK THIS IN FUTURE
CASES OF REPATRIATION.
C. (PARA 32) WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST, THROUGH OUR OWN STAFF IN THE CAMPS, TO EXPLAIN THE SCREENING POLICY TO ALL BOAT PEOPLE. BUT THIS IS BASICALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNHCR WHO HAVE FULL-TIME LEGAL CONSULTANTS WHOSE JOB IS TO COUNSEL, ADVISE AND PREPARE THE BOAT PEOPLE FOR THE SCREENING INTERVIEW AND ADVISE THEM OF THEIR RIGHT OF APPEAL. UNHCR HAS ALSO DESIGNATED A SPECIAL AGENCY (THE AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER SERVICES) TO ASSIST THOSE SCREENED OUT WITH
THEIR APPEALS.
D.
(PARA 33) WE ARE SOMEWHAT SURPRISED ABOUT THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE DETAILS OF THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME CLAIMED BY THE RETURNEES. WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST THROUGH CAMP STAFF TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAMME TO ALL BOAT PEOPLE. A VIDEO ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION HAS ALSO BEEN SHOWN IN EACH CAMP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE INITIATIVE TO ORGANISE CONSULAR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND THE UNHCR TO GO ROUND ALL THE CAMPS TO EXPLAIN VERY FRANKLY TO THE SCREENED-OUT THAT THEY HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO RETURN TO VIETNAM AND TO GIVE OUT INFORMATION ON THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. THE 51 RETURNEES HAVE ALSO BEEN GIVEN SPECIAL COUNSELLING SESSIONS BY CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
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