T
LEAD IN ANNOUNCING THAT ITS OVERALL RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE REGION IS TO BE DOUBLED. I AM MUCH ENCOURAGED TOO BY THE
REAT CONTRIBUTION WHICH CANADA HAS JUST ANNOUNCED, AND BY THE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME WHICH THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHERS HAVE UNDERTAKEN. THE PLEDGES OF THESE NEW RESETTLEMENT PLACES AND NEW MONEY TO FINANCE THE PROGRAMME OFFER NEW HOPE TO HONG-
KONG,
RUT SADLY TIER ARE OTHER EMOTIONS. THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ASK WHY PROPORTIONATELY MORE RESETTLEMENT PLACES ARE GIVEN TO OTHER PLACES OF FIRST ASYLUM. THIS YEAR THIRTY FIVE PER CENT CF THE BOAT REFUGEES IN THE REGION CAME TO HONG KONG, BUT IT ONLY RECEIVED THIRTEEN PER CENT OF THE RESETTLEMENT PLACES. OR PUTTING IT DIFFERENTLY, 66,303 ARRIVED THIS YEAR, BUT ONLY FIVE AND A HALF THOUSAND HAVE BEEN RESETTLED. LƯNG KŨNG S RECORD AS A PLACE OF FIRST ASYLUM IS UNIQUE. BUT ON PAST EXPERIENCE YOU CANNOT BLAME PEOPLE IN HONG KONG FOR DRAWING THE CONCLUSION THAT HELP WOULD BE GREATER IF POLICIES WERE LARSHER. NOR CAN YOU BLAME THOSE WHO APPLY HARSHER POLICIES FOR CONCLUDING THAT THEY HAVE PAID OFF.
MR SECRETARY GENERAL, HUMANITY IS NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO UNDERLIMED RECEIVE REFUGEES. IT IS ALSO FOR THOSE WHO CREATE CONDITIONS
I AM SURPRISED UNDER WHICH PEOPLE, UNDERLINED, BECOME REF UCEES,
THAT THERE CAN BE ANY DOUBT ABOUT WHY REFUGEES LEAVE VIETNAM OR ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH THEY LEAVE. WE HAVE 66,000 WITNESSES IN HONG KONG. THEIR STORIES ARE CLEAR. THE PRODLENS OF THE REGION CANNOT BE SOLVED UNTIL THE FLOOD OF REFUGEES IS STOPPED, AND STOPPED HUMANELY, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS CAN BE DONE AND MAINTAINED IF THE WILL TO DO IT IS THERE.
MR
SECRETARY GENERAL (MR CHAIRMAN), THE CALLING OF THIS CON- FERENCE, AND THE COMMITMENTS PICH PAVE BEEN MADE OF INCREASED RESETTLEMENT AND INCREASED FUNDING FOR UNHCR HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE TO COPE DIRECTLY WITH THE PROBLEM OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM, SO TOO HAS THE MOBILISATION OF WORLD OPINION WPICH YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO FOCUS ON THIS PROBLEM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE
ENTKUSTASH AND PERSEVERANCE WITH RICH YOU AND THE FIGH COMMISSIONER HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THIS CONFERENCE A SUCCESS.
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