The arrival of the Huey Fong just before Christmas created a
very serious problem for the Hong Kong Government. Hong Kong
✓was not the ship's first port of call. While still 1,000 miles
from Hong Kong (and about the same distance from Taiwan) the
master was warned that he would not be allowed to enter Hong Kong
Vand should proceed to his original destination which was.in
Taiwan.
He ignored this message and efforts to persuade him to
Vaail for Taiwan failed.
the passengers
The Hong Kong Government's decision to allow
Vof the Huey Fong to disembark in the Colony was taken for
humanitarian reasons. There is, however, a limit to the numbers
Mong Kong can absorb and there is real and very understandable
✓concern among the people of Hong Kong that other vessels might
We encouraged to adopt the same action as the Huey Fong. Indeed,
their fears have been borre out: another vessel, the "Skyluck",
with some 3,000 people aboard, has now entered Hong Kong waters.
The exodus of refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia is a grim
testament to the conditions in these three countries since
Communist regimes seized power in Indo China in 1975. In South
Vietnam, in Laos and in Cambodia we have seen not only a drastic
fall in the standard of living for many people but also the
imposition of systems which violate basic human rights. I do not
need to recount the terrible violations which have occured in
Cambodia. I am glad to say that this Government took the lead
in bringing those events in Cambodia to the attention of the United
Nations by raising them at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva.
/Since