THE PHILIPPINES GOVERNMENT HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE
TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL PROCESSING CENTRE TO WHICH ALL
REFUGEES IN THE REGION COULD BE TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO
RESETTLEMENT WITHIN 3 YEARS. WE HAVE ANNOUNCED OUR
READINESS TO CONTRIBUTE £5 MILLION TOWARDS THE COST OF
SUCH A CENTRE, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE IMMEDIATE AND
URGENTLY NEEDED RELIEF FOR HONG KONG.
THE CONFERENCE ALSO MARKED INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE
OF THE REALITY THAT ALL THOSE BOAT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY
AS REFUGEES MUST FIND THEIR FUTURE IN VIETNAM. WHAT COULD
BE MORE INHUMANE THAN THE PROSPECT OF THEIR INDEFINITE
DETENTION IN CAMPS IN HONG KONG AND ELSEWHERE? THE TASK
NOW IS TO WORK FOR ARRANGEMENTS TO ENABLE THEM TO RETURN
TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN WITHOUT FEAR OF PUNISHMENT.
WE WILL BE HOLDING TALKS WITH THE VIETNAMESE LATER THIS
MONTH, INCLUDING DURING THE VISIT TO LONDON NEXT WEEK
BY THE VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER, WITH THIS AIM IN MIND.
/PERORATION 22.