P.2
the Orderly Repatriation Programme (ORP),
(ORP), including paying home visits to all ORP-returnees, and (b) to administer the Hongkong- funded projects scheme. Nor is it "a general practice for the Embassy
out 'home-visit-evidence-in-support' investigations before the Director of Immigration makes his decision”. The Embassy simply does
does not undertake fact finding visits for screening purposes.
to
carry
5. We do occasionally approach appropriate Vietnamese Government departments at the request of the Hong Kong Government to verify documents such as the household registration, marriage/divorce certificates, academic certificates etc. or to check facts relating to certain ORP cases (e.g., a Vietnamese migrant might claim have committed serious crimes in the country before fleeing for Hong Kong), but these kind of enquiries can not be construed as a "Hong Kong Immigration Officer investigatory function". Therefore the question of "continuation of the section 4 enquiry" or "re- opening of a fresh section 4 enquiry" does not exist.
6. To elaborate further, for example, my post could have been taken up by a seconded officer from the Security Branch (AO or EO), a police or CSD officer, etc., who, by nature of his work, has connection with the refugee matters in Hong Kong, and he would do exactly what I had done at the request of the Hong Kong Government. The fact that I happen to be an immigration officer is purely incidental. In other words, when I conducted the home visit, I was acting as an accredited member of the British Embassy and not as a Hong Kong Government servant, which was further authenticated by the fact that while I discharged my duties in Vietnam, produce my diplomatic card issued by the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and not the warrant card issued by the Director of Immigration in Hong Kong.
7.
the
As the home visit conducted by me was a fact-finding mission, there was no question of seeking the prior approval of Vietnamese Authorities. As a rider to the Orderly Repatriation Programme and to build up their international image, the Vietnamese Government gave blanket approval for staff of the British Embassy, UNHCR and some international organizations to conduct home visits to all returnees and their relatives to ensure that there is no No persecution by the Authorities upon their return to Vietnam. further approval for visiting any specific returnee is required.
8. Because of the very nature of our home visits, we have to ask questions as to whether the returnees are persecuted, harassed, discriminated or inconvenienced in any way by the local authorities. Never have we received any report from any returnee that as a result of our visits, the interviewees (returnees or their relatives) become subjects of harassment or interrogation by the police nor have we and UNHCR etc. found any case of persecution on the returnees by the Authorities. Moreover, we have never
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