TNAG-2212-FCO40-3172-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1990-1991 — Page 154

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Governments, and the centre was built with a contribution of

three million pounds by Her Majesty's Government.

22.

Following another agreement reached in February 1990 by

Her Majesty's Government and the Vietnamese Government on

the return to Vietnam of 1,000 volunteers a month as from

May, there was a steady increase in the number of volunteers

returning home to Vietnam. The numbers, however, still fell

short of the 1,000 per month figure agreed.

23. In September, following discussions in Hanoi, a third

agreement was reached between the British, Vietnamese and

Hong Kong Governments and the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees on streamlined procedures which

should help to accelerate the voluntary repatriation

programme. Also agreed was a programme to repatriate

non-refugees, who, while not actively volunteering to

return to Vietnam, were nevertheless not opposed to

repatriation. This new programme is administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The first

flight under the new programme took place on 1 December

1990.

24.

On the international front, an informal meeting of the

Steering Committee was held in May in Manila, but no

agreement was reached on the central issue of mandatory repatriation or on the timing for the next formal Steering Committee meeting.

25. Meanwhile, a new detention centre at Tai A Chau, built with a major contribution of eight million pounds from Her Majesty's Government, was completed in January 1991. This new centre will provide extra accommodation facilities and

thus make it possible to close down some existing centres

and relieve overcrowding in others. Tt is also the intention of the Hong Kong Government to vest management of the new centre in the hands of a voluntary agency with a view to experimenting with a more open and liberal approach

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