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MRS.) E. ELLIOTT. C. B. E.,
TEL. 3-422414
OUR REF:
CER HEF:
35, Kung Lok Road, Kwun Tonz, KOWLOON.
25 February 1955
The Editor
Dear Sir,
I an afraid that in spite of Government oprition, I have to continue battle on behalf of Vietnamese or others in refugee camps in Hong Kong.
I repeat that I am aware of the diffirnīties faced by the Hong Kong Jovernment in controllin; illegal immigration, nd agree that illegal inmigrants should in future he repatriated (safely), unless their lives are in genuine danger from political, racial or religious persecution.
Sooner or later the world will have to face up to the fact that the problem of genuine refugees must be solved. Most of the former large British Colonies, in particular North America, were peopled by"illegal" immigrants or deportees From Eritain. Britain no przētises political or religious persecution, except, to some extent, in Northern Ireland, but some other countries are still passing through this phase in their history, creating a world-wide picture of h mun suffering. The United Nations Organization seems incapable of ste.ming the tide of persecution er of providing a refuge for the persecuted.
Sut the fact that the world has filed to solve thene utollers e.culd naj he used as an excuse to deprive illegal immi munte in Hong Kong of their han rights. Here in Hong Kong a number of atblus 67 The duan nights Charter are being violated purely for the purpose of creating
f creating a diuin entire to illegal immigration.
I have now interviewed some of the refugees, and learned of the despair that prevails amon; certain groups. It is eviuent that resettlement priority is given to families, Catholics, an ecple who an afford to pay American Lawyers to armage comes for them. Some other groups, nombly single people, non-Catholics and these without money to engage expensive lawyers, are left with Little hope for the future,
In
Some amor, this hopeless romp cave ben demoralised by despair. Two years ago it was discovered that in one camp a few young people nad taken to drugs. Ale redly no action was taken to cure then, and the number of addicts is now about 4% of the population of that particular cump. another camp where there are fower addicts, sene of the one-parent or unattached yeangsters are being taught by older iunites to steal vâu pick pockets. "ambling is endemic, and blackmail not uncommon.
This is not intended as an indictment against going camp inmites, ut of a system that de oralises nea, women and unibilen, imit their movements, and separates families.
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