TNAG-2621-FCO40-3812-Visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-an-1992 — Page 82

and who, because of this fear, is unwilling to avail himself

or herself of the protection of his or her country of

nationality.

5.

In April 1991 Vietnam reaffirmed its undertaking that no-one who returned to Vietnam would be persecuted and that

the UNHCR would have unhindered access to those who returned. More than 20,000 asylum seekers in Hong Kong have taken advantage of this Voluntary Repatriation Programme.

Britain has pledged £3 million to an EC-sponsored programme to help reintegrate non-refugees back into their communities.

6. On 29 October 1991, 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 1991 would be screened immediately, and those who, after screening and appeal, were found not to be refugees, would be returned to Vietnam without delay.

7. Since 29 October 1991 there have been three flights

returning non-refugees under the first phase of an Orderly Repatriation Programme which involved non-refugees who arrived in Hong Kong after 29 October 1991. Now that the British and Hong Kong authorities have demonstrated that they have the will and the means to return non-refugees, the number of Vietnamese arriving in Hong Kong has dropped dramatically and record numbers are volunteering to return

under UNHCR auspices.

8. On 12 May 1992 agreement was reached with Vietnam for the return, under Phase II of the Orderly Repatriation Programme, of those non-refugees who were already in Hong Kong before October 1991.

South East Asian Department May 1992

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