TNAG-2068-FCO40-2946-Vietnamese-boat-people-and-the-Legislative-and-Executive-Cou-1990 — Page 7

The reduction of the statutory period of appeals with a view to swift repatriation of new arrivals would require legislative amendment.

FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPLICATIONS

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Subject to the satisfactory outcome of negotiations with the Vietnamese government, a ship will be required for repatriating the already large number of non-refugees to Vietnam.

A suitable British flag ship has been identified. Time charter would cost approximately HK$45 million per annum. Outright purchase

purchase would be in the order of HK$56 million, with management costs likely to be some HK$12 million per annum. Assuming that rapid screening and large scale repatriation were possible, Police and Immigration staff would be needed for regular escort duties to Vietnam. Immigration staff would also be needed for documentation, record keeping and statistical work to supply information on the returnees to the Hanoi authorities. This would have implications on staffing and overtime allowances which cannot yet be estimated. Medical and nursing staff would be required to conduct medical examinations of VBP prior to repatriation and to provide medical coverage during flights and sea-voyages.

Resources would also be required for radiological and laboratory tests which form part of the medical examinations.

Any proposals for additional expenditure would be examined in the normal way.

Consultation with UNHCR

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We intend to consult UNHCR on our proposed strategy for the screening of new arrivals, and to seek their cooperation.

PUBLIC REACTION

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Locally, widespread support is expected for a strategy 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 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 whether the strategy is seen as a final solution to the VBP problem.

arrivals.

CONFIDENTIAL