TNAG-2401-FCO40-3488-Vietnamese-migrants-Orderly-Repatriation-Programme-(ORP)-1992 — Page 119

Th search for a solution

For the past two years, the British and Hong Kong

Governments have made strenuous efforts to find ways of implementing the CPA fully and of increasing the rate of repatriation of non-refugees. Britain and Hong Kong support the voluntary repatriation of non-refugees, but it is clear that this alone cannot solve the problem. Although over

17,000 Vietnamese have volunteered for repatriation from Hong Kong since March 1989, only around 2,400 of these have been from among those finally screened out as being non-refugees. Of the 57,000 Vietnamese still in Hong Kong,

more than 20,000 have been screened out.

At talks in Hanoi in September 1991, between officials of the Vietnamese, British and Hong Kong Governments and representatives of the UNHCR and of the International Organisation for Migration, Vietnam indicated that she was willing to accept the return from Hong Kong, in accordance with international practices, of all Vietnamese found not to be refugees. On 17 October, agreement was reached on the

modalities for returning the double-backers, and on 29 October, Britain, Hong Kong and Vietnam signed a Statement of Understanding on the principles of an Orderly Repatriation Programme for all non-refugees in Hong Kong. Under this agreement, as a first step, all Vietnamese migrants arriving in Hong Kong after 29 October would be screened immediately, and those who, after screening and appeal, were found not to be refugees, would be returned to Vietnam without delay. Later, all non-refugees who had arrived in Hong Kong before 29 October would also be returned to Vietnam. Discussion of the modalities for this

continue between the three parties.

VICABW/3