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that they may either continue their journey after being given fresh provisions or they may remain in Hong Kong and be detained pending determination of their refugee status in accordance with internationally accepted criteria. If their case for refugee status is rejected, they are detained
pending removal from Hong Kong.
16. It is significant to note that since 1979, Hong Kong has consistently had the highest Vietnamese boat people population of the first asylum countries in the region. Between 1979 and 1987, Hong Kong had about 40% of the total. In 1989, the
share increased to nearly 50%.
Today, it stands at about 54%.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION
17. The Second International Conference on Indo-Chinese
Refugee was held in Geneva in June 1989. A Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA) was devised and endorsed by 75 participating countries. Under the plan, people leaving Vietnam without proper authority would be given temporary asylum pending a screening process monitored by UNHCR and established according to strict UNHCR guidelines. If they were found to be genuine refugees, they would be resettled. The CPA also endorsed the principle that those determined not to be refugees should return, in accordance with international practice, to Vietnam.
18. The CPA has been the cornerstone of the Hong Kong Government's policy towards the Vietnamese asylum seekers.
Once intercepted in Hong Kong waters, Vietnamese asylum
seekers are informed of the policy of detention pending status determination (ie screening) and repatriation to Vietnam if found to be non-refugees. They are also informed that they are free to leave but, if they do not, and are later found to be non-refugees, they will be detained pending repatriation to
Vietnam.
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