TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 170

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Vietnam. During his visit to Vietnam in February, the Minister of State, Mr Francis Maude achieved agreement that from May 1990 around 1,000 volunteers a month would be accepted back, a sufficient rate of flow, if maintained, to clear all the non-refugees in Hong Kong in little over three years. The Government also offered to contribute to the cost of a new reception centre near Hanoi to enable the Vietnamese authorities to reach this target.

32. It has been clear for some time, however, that voluntary returns alone cannot provide a comprehensive solution to the problems in Hong Kong. The latest evidence shows that only about 2 per cent of those screened out as non-refugees have volunteered to return to Vietnam. The Government share the Committee's view that in the absence of significant levels of voluntary repatriation, there is no alternative to the repatriation of those who are screened out (paragraph 5.4). On 12 December 1989, the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary therefore announced the Government's decision to repatriate 51 Vietnamese boat people who were not refugees, under a bilateral agreement reached with the Vietnamese Government in June 1989 which guaranteed that returnees would not be punished by the Vietnamese authorities. No force was used. Two former Ministers (Lord Ennals and Mr Raison MP) visited Vietnam in January and confirmed that no force had been used against those returned and that they had not been ill-treated in any way. Discussions are continuing with the Vietnamese Government on the practicalities of non- voluntary repatriation. The agreement of June 1989 remains in force.

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33. The Steering Committee of the International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees, which reconvened in Geneva in mid-January narrowly failed to reach agreement on how to deal with those determined not to be refugees following screening. Almost all the participants were prepared to accept that mandatory repatriation could begin from 1 July 1990. In the end consensus was blocked by the United States, which insisted that no one should be returned involuntary before 1 January 1991 and by the Vietnamese who held out for 1 October 1990. The Government have made clear to the United States Administration that if they continue to oppose involuntary repatriation. Hong Kong and the other places of first asylum would look to the United States to provide an alternative solution. The Committee recommended that the Government should press the United States to accept responsibility for the accommodation of those screened out until such time as they are content to accept their repatriation to Vietnam (paragraph 5.6). The Government are doing this.

34. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Mr Stoltenberg, launched a new initiative in mid-March aimed at tackling the root causes of the exodus from Vietnam and increasing the number of voluntary returns. He indicated that UNHCR would be willing to monitor the conditions of all who return to Vietnam, on a good offices and time limited basis, provided there was consensus in support. The Government will continue to work closely with UNHCR for a comprehensive and durable solution. The Government's objective is to ensure that the rate of returns to Vietnam is sustained at 1,000 a month and that if there are fewer than 1,000 volunteers, the difference should be made up by non-volunteers. The Government hope that there will be an international consensus opening the way to UNHCR monitoring the conditions of all who return. The Government are also working closely with UNHCR to limit any shortcomings there may be in the screening process.

35. The Government agree with the Committee that assistance should be given to those who return to Vietnam (paragraph 5.4). Reintegration assistance is already being made available to help returnees settle back into their communities, with volunteers receiving slightly more generous terms. The Government are also considering financial support for NGO activities in areas of Vietnam from which boat people predominantly come. However, programme aid would need to await full acceptance by the Vietnamese authorities of their obligations towards their own people.

36. The Committee recommended that the Government should take vigorous steps to secure a more positive and responsible approach by the Chinese Government to the problem of Vietnamese boat people (paragraph 5.8). The Government have continued to press the Chinese authorities to step up their efforts to prevent asylum seekers transitting China en route to Hong Kong both overland and along the South China coast. The latest evidence suggests that 90 per cent of new arrivals now make most of the journey overland. Information on the routes used is being passed to the Chinese authorities on a regular basis.

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