Supplementary to Leg. Co. Question No. 1 of 23rd May, 1979
Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen :
Sir, would the Chief Secretary care to comment on the possible involvement of the Vietnamese Government in this tragic exodus of so many people?
The Chief Secretary :
Sir, I have no doubt and I believe that there can be no doubt that the Vietnamese Government is aware and often is party to this disgusting trade in human misery and if I can add to that in his statement of 17th, May; the Minister of State, Mr. Blaker, said that the British Government, and I quote : will take every opportunity to impress on the Vietnamese Government an abhorrence of the policies which have driven so many people to flee that country often at great risk of their lives.
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Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen:
Sir, will Government consider the practicality of issuing visitor's visas to all Vietnamese refugees imgediately on landing in Hong Kong so that they could approach direct to the UNHCR office here to complete registration formalities for repatriation to other countries and to obtain what other aid they wish from the UNHCR office and from relatives and friend in Hong Kong?
The Chief Secretary :
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Sir, any change in our present procedures by which Vietnamese refugees are allowed to remain here temporarily pending resettlement by UNHCR would need very careful consideration of all the factors involved and I would not wish to go further than this at this time.
Miss L. Dunn :
Sir, what is the present estimate as to how long it will take to resettle the 30,000 odd Vietnamese refugees, already in our camps here?
The Chief Secretary :
Sir, it is impossible to give a precise answer to this question, except other than, it seems a long time.
Mr. T.S. Lo :
Sir, on the questioh of third countries taking the refugees how many places have actually been promised todate?
The Chief Secretary:
Sir, I can give you the figures on the position todate as from 1st January this
year and we have had resettled something like 3,300. The numbers we were
expecting to be resettled in the next 2 or 3 months are less than originally
hoped because of the lack of finance, I understand, in some of the receiving
countries.