UNCLASSIFIED
MDHI
ด
156667
3530
NON-REFUGEES, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO ATTRACT TO HONG KONG MISGUIDED AND MISLED VIETNAMESE RESETTLEMENT SEEKERS.
6. WHAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY THE CRITICS OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION IS THAT, FAR FROM BEING CONTRARY TO THE CPA, IT IS AN INTRINSIC AND LOGICAL PART OF IT. ONCE SOMEONE HAS BEEN SCREENED OUT AS A NON-REFUGEE, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO RETURNING, WITH SAFEGUARDS, TO VIETNAM. THAT IS THE CLEAR MESSAGE OF THE CPA, AND IT IS SIMPLY UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT ALL NON-REFUGEES TO VOLUNTEER TO RETURN. SOME WILL, AND HAVE ALREADY. BUT FOR NON-VOLUNTEERS, WHO WILL BE THE MAJORITY, WHAT ALTERNATIVE IS THERE TO REPATRIATION? THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR RESETTLEMENT: AND THE ONLY OTHER OPTION, WHICH IS INDEFINITE DETENTION IN PERMANENT CAMPS IN HONG KONG, HAS TO BE DISCOUNTED. OTHERWISE THAT WOULD INDEED BE A GRIM PROSPECT: NOT ONLY FOR THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONCERNED, BUT ALSO FOR HONG KONG AS A CONTINUING SOCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL BURDEN.
7. THE OUTWARD SURGE OF VIETNAMESE FROM THEIR HOMELAND CAN NO LONGER BE VIEWED IN THE SIMPLE, IDEOLOGICAL FASHION OF FORMER YEARS, ACCORDING TO WHICH EVERY PERSON LEAVING VIETNAM WAS REGARDED AUTOMATICALLY AS A REFUGEE SEEKING ASYLUM.
WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT HONG KONG HAS TURNED NONE AWAY, BUT IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNISE THAT THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE SEE HONG KONG ONLY AS A TRANSIT CENTRE TO RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE. AND FOR OVERSEAS VIETNAMESE, OR OTHERS, TO FOSTER SUCH HOPES OF RESETTLEMENT IS TO MISLEAD IRRESPONSIBLY THESE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE
WHOM NOBODY WANTS.
8. SIR, THE THIRD STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE RE-CONVENED IN GENEVA ON 4 AND 5 DECEMBER, AND I HOPE THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THE ISSUE OF REPATRIATION. WITHOUT THIS ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT, AND THE DETERRENT MESSAGE IT WOULD SEND, HONG KONG COULD WELL FACE ANOTHER MAJOR INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE IN 1990. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS ENDORSED THE CPA, AND THE COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM MUST BE ALLOWED TO IMPLEMENT IT IN FULL IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE TO COPE WITH THE ENORMOUS PRESSURES IMPOSED ON US BY
ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM.
9. FINALLY, SIR, I SHOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO ALL OUT DISCIPLINED AND AUXILIARY SERVICES. MANY HAVE BEEN HEAVILY COMMITTED TO COPING WITH THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. ALL HAVE FACED DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITMENT, AND IN REPLACING SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED MANPOWER. YET THEY HAVE ALL RESPONDED MAGNIFICENTLY. HONG KONG CAN BE VERY PROUD OF ITS DISCIPLINED AND AUXILIARY
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