DURABLE SOLUTIONS
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Resettlement alone is not the answer. Long-term solution lies
in creation of acceptable conditions in Vietnam to enable the return
to Vietnam of those whose reason for leaving is essentially
economic.
In contact with the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees and with the main resettlement countries on this question.
Now active international discussion of the possibility of
returning to Vietnam under suitable safeguards those who do not meet
the criteria of refugees.
CLOSED CAMPS IN HONG KONG: THE OXFAM REPORT
We are carefully studying Oxfam's recent report on Hong Kong's
closed centres.
Closed centre policy was introduced with the greatest
reluctance to avert a situation in which the level of new arrivals
was rapidly becoming intolerable: the Hong Kong Government believe, and we agree, that these centres are a regrettable necessity.
Closed centres do have deterrent effect. Over the years, they
have contributed to discouraging Vietnamese from setting out on the
dangerous voyage to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Government and British Government attach great importance to ensuring that conditions in the centres are as humane
as possible.
STATUS OF REFUGEES AFTER 1997?
Our firm intention that Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong
should be resolved well before 1997.
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