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grateful, find themselves unable or unwilling to maintain
their previous levels of assistance.
Offtake this year has
been only 839. This adds to the burden for Hong Kong. Some
resettlement countries are now saying that most of those
arriving no longer fall within their criteria for
mon people
Λ
resettlement, that they are no longer fleeing political,
religious or racial persecution, but to a large extent are
simply people seeking a better life.
پھر
Here in Hong Kong we have, at no little cost,
maintained an exemplary record of accepting Vietnamese boat
people. Since 1975, more than 116,000 refugees from Vietnam
have sought and been granted first asylum in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has met its responsibilities fully for 13
years. I understand the concern expressed by Members that our
humanitarian principles should not be exploited. This is not
just a matter of money, although, as Members have rightly
pointed out, Hong Kong seems to bear a disproportionate share
of the financial burden for this international problem.
Sir, I am grateful to Mrs. Fan and the
Council
Members of the
of /se Régislative Ke Legco, Ad Hoc group for their concern, and the time and effort
they devote to the Vietnamese refugee problem. The points
which Members have raised in their speeches about funding and
the financial costs to Hong Kong, about the need for increased
resettlement, Hong Kong's unenviable position as a place of
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