:
!
PRESS RELEASE:
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) WELCOMED THE REPORT FROM THE BRITISH
HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S SUB-COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND
IMMIGRATION (SCORRIE).
A SPOKESMAN SAID:
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE REPORT AS AN INDICATION
OF HMG'S CONTINUED INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S REFUGEE PROBLEM.
WE SHALL STUDY THE REPORT CAREFULLY, CONSIDER ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
WHICH DEAL WITH HONG KONG AND PRESENT OUR VIEWS TO HMG.
''THE COMMITT HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO PARLIAMENT AND HMG WILL
RESPOND IN DUE COURSE BY MAKING A STATEMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS
TO PARLIAMENT.''
IF PRESSED:
''NEITHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NOR HMG WISH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
TO REMAIN IN OPEN OR CLOSED CENTRES IN HONG KONG.
''OUR WISH IS TO FIND A DURABLE SOLUTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.!!
LINE TO TAKE:
(1) WE WELCOME THE REPORT AS AN INDICATION OF HMG'S CONTINUED
INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S REFUGEE PROBLEM:
(2) WE SHALL STUDY THE REPORT CAREFULLY, CONSIDER ITS RECOMMEND-
ATIONS WHICH DEAL WITH HONG KONG AND PRESENT OUR VIEWS TO HMG:
(3) THE COMMITTEE HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO PARLIAMENT AND HMG
WILL RESPOND, IN DUE COURSE, BY MAKING A STATEMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARLIAMENT.
DEFENSIVELY
(4) NEITHER THE HONG KONT GOVERNMENT NOR HMG WISH VIETNAMESE
REFUGEES TO REMAIN IN OPEN OR CLOSED CENTRES IN HONG KONG
AND OUR WISH IS TO FIND A DURABLE SOLUTION AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
(5) WE DO NOT INTEND TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN OUR POLICY UNTIL WE
HAVE DISCUSSED THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WITH HMG AND IT
HAS, THEN, RESPONDED TO PARLIAMENT SETTING OUT ITS POSITION.
(6) HONG KONG CANNOT LIBERALISE ITS REFUGEE POLICY (ABOLISH CLOSED
CENTRES OR ABSORB MORE) UNLESS:
(A) THE MIGRATION FROM VIETNAM TO HONG KONG IS STOPPED: OR
(B) RESETTLEMENT IS INCREASED.
ই