TNAG-2169-FCO40-3106-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 33

anecdotal evidence and report and hearsay and perhaps even rumour.

would not want to build a legal case on it. Nonetheless, it is an

indicative sign that it had had that effect. No, I certainly do not

So I

exclude the use of mandatory repatriation, non-voluntary repatriation, in

the future. One could not possibly do so. I should be very delighted if

every single one of those in the camps who are eventually screened out as

not being refugees were to volunteer under the UNHCR scheme to return to

Vietnam. That would be ideal and very good indeed. If I am asked whether

I think that is likely I am bound to say I do not think it is. When the

process of mandatory, non-voluntary repatriation begins again is not for me

to say at this moment. But certainly we have not excluded it. Certainly

we stand ready to use the bilateral agreement with Vietnam which allows for

such returns if it becomes necessary to do so.

25.

Mr Rowlands

At least will you give us one assurance, that the system or

requirement for mandatory repatriation will not, as it did last December,

include parting women and children in the middle of the night? At least

can we get that simple assurance?

(Mr Maude) I am not going to give any assurances about this except to

give the assurance we have done throughout that any repatriations which are

carried out are done according to accepted international practices.

I remind the Committee

-

and I think the majority of the Committee knows

-

and accepts this that mandatory repatriation is a process which is

carried out day-in day-out in many countries across the world and it is

being done in Hong Kong virtually every day.

26.

out

-

You say day-in day-out we are talking about night-in night-

trying to push them out in the middle of the night.

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