2104
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 5 July 1989
density of 5 200 per sq km, we are already accommodating over 48 000 Vietnamese refugees and boat people, with more yet to come. To put this in the context of the United Kingdom which has 230 per sq km, it means having to accommodate one million people. Against all odds, Hong Kong is still offering a safe haven for the Vietnamese boat people. Have any British dependent territories ever done so much for so long to uphold British honour and principle? What have Hong Kong got in return?
The British subjects in Hong Kong have their right of abode in the United Kingdom removed by successive acts of Parliament, in which we have no representative. When OMELCO requested the restoration of that right, the Vietnamese boat people problem was used to undermine Hong Kong's case. If I may, Sir, I would like to clarify the issue for those who genuinely misunderstood it, and refute those British politicians who used insinuation to mislead the unsuspecting British public for their own political ends.
Due to the limitation of time under our five minutes rule, I shall only make four points:
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Britain is Hong Kong's sovereign state, and thereby has a direct constitutional moral responsibility to the people of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has no ties with Vietnam; nor any obligation towards Vietnamese boat people.
The British Government and various MPs from both sides of the House have so far rejected Hong Kong's legitimate request of restoration of a right which was taken away without consultation nor compensation for the injured party. Many arguments had been made based on claims of practical difficulties, which are more imaginary than real as shown by the Corry Report commissioned by the South China Morning Post and surveys conducted by independent organizations. In comparison, Hong Kong has accepted and continued to accommodate all boat people in the face of immense practical difficulties.
The vast majority of the Vietnamese boat people are treated as economic migrants by the resettlement countries, and has no chance of resettlement in the West. They do not want to stay in Hong Kong. They have no future except back in Vietnam. Hong Kong is left with the burden of looking after them until they can return to Vietnam under humane conditions. In contrast, the people of Hong Kong want to stay in Hong Kong. Those who have migrated stand to lose in income, in social status, in career development, and in breaking up family ties, Far from being economic migrants, they bring in capital, professional and entrepreneurial skills, and are welcomed by other countries. They are forced to leave because they need the insurance policy. If they can have the insurance policy without leaving, who would want to leave? There is a world of difference between Vietnamese boat people and the people of Hong Kong. The stark contrast between Hanoi and Hong Kong shows that difference to some
extent.