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14. THE PROBLEM OF THE VIETNAMESESBOAT PEOPLE REMAINS A MAJOR HEADACHE, POLITICALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY. THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE HAS LOST PATIENCE WITH THE PROBLEM AND SYMPATHY WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.
15. THERE IS WIDESPREAD SCEPTICISM OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCREENING POLICY, WHICH FACES TWO TESTS IN THE COMING MONTHS. THE FIRST WILL BE THE RATE OF ARRIVALS, PARTICULARLY IN MARCH AND APRIL WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARMER AND THE WINDS CHANGE. THE SECOND WILL BE PROGRESS IN REPATRIATION AND RESETTLEMENT. IF ARRIVALS INCREASE AND REPATRIATION AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMMES MAKE NO PROGRESS, WE MUST EXPECT RENEWED AND FIERCE ATTACKS ON THE POLICY OF FIRST ASYLUM.
16. THE LIBERALIZATION POLICY FOR REFUGEES HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITICISED AND MISUNDERSTOOD, PARTICULARLY IN TUEN MUN, WHERE LOCAL POLITIAL LEADERS HAVE FANNED EXISTING ANTAGONISMS. STORIES, MOSTLY EXAGGERATED, CIRCULATE FREELY ABOUT THE MISBEHAVIOUR OF REFUGEES ALLOWED OUT OF CAMP TO WORK OR FOR RECREATION.
17. THE POLICY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, ON BOTH LIBERALISATION AND FIRST ASYLUM, IS WIDELY SEEN LOCALLY AS TOO (QUOTE) SOFT (UNQUOTE), PARTICULARLY WHEN CONTRASTED WITH THE TREATMENT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA. THE UK IS EQUALLY WIDELY SEEN AS PRESSURISING HONG KONG TO ADOPT THIS POLICY AND THEN DOING LITTLE TO RELIEVE THE TERRITORY OF ITS BURDEN.
18. BY CONTRAST, LIBERAL OPINION, BOTH INTERNATIONALLY AND LOCALLY (PARTICULARLY THE FORMER) IS CRITICAL OF THE HARSHNESS OF HONG KONG'S TREATMENT OF BOAT PEOPLE AND CAN BE EXPECTED TO OPPOSE VOCIFEROUSLY ANY MOVE TO RETURN TO VIETNAM THOSE SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES WHO HAVE NOT THEMSELVES VOLUNTEERED TO GO.
19. HMG'S CONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF 1,000 MORE REFUGEES FOR
RESETTLEMENT WAS WELCOMED WITH RESERVATIONS. THE MEDIA DREW ATTENTION TO THE CONDITIONS ATTACHED. THE OFFER HAS TO SOME EXTENT BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY NEWS OF THE MORE GENEROUS CANADIAN OFFER.
WILSON
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