3
l.c.
Sc
alse
refugees from other parts of the world. If, for this reason,
Cannot
there can't be resettlement of Vietnamese refugees from Hong
Kong, then the alternative is to seek durable solutions to the
problem of disorderly departures from Vietnam.
Sør,
Against the background I have just described I am not
surprised that the durable solution two hon. Members advocated
was that we should repair the refugees' boats and send them on
their way. I think that before we start considering such an
extreme measure, we should give the solution we are currently
pursuing more time in which to bear fruit and my hon Friend
who can
Legislative Council
A
the
sc
Mrs, Rita FAN said in this debate that the ego group that
deals with refugees has asked for a report on progress in six
months' time As my hon. Friend Mr. Peter C WONG stressed,
solution to the problem must be humane. To this end, as I
have said many times in this Council, the solution we are
pursuing is to screen new arrivals and to repatriate all those
an hot establish they are genuine refugees, provided we
can be satisfied that they will not be treated inhumanely. It
is meeting this proviso that is currently holding up further
progress. But as my hon. Friend Mrs. Rita FAN commented, there
is a 'small glimpse of hope
on the horizon'. And I can
assure hon. Members that the Hong Kong Government will
continue to do everything it can to get our policy on
repatriation accepted. Just as, meanwhile, we will continue
doing everything we can to encourage the resettlement
countries to take more refugees from Hong Kong. And we badly
need their help. Our Vietnamese refugee population is now
9,366 compared with 7,630 in May this year.
A