UNCLASSIFIED
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 18130OZ FCO
TELNO 201
OF 18113OZ JANUARY 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
UNCLASSIFIED
MFD 243/9 нко
OnY WOP COPY
опу
Q DIST ?
20 177263
MDHIAN 8960
MIPT: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
TEXT OF OUR PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON 18 JANUARY IS AS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY
THE CLEAR POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHICHEVER COUNTRY THEY COME FROM, SHOULD BE REPATRIATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
''UNDER A LONG STANDING AGREEMENT WITH CHINA, ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOUND ENTERING OR REMAINING IN HONG KONG ARE
IMMEDIATELY REPATRIATED.
''THERE IS ANOTHER AGREEMENT WITH CHINA FOR THE REPATRIATION OF
VIETNAMESE RESETTLED IN CHINA WHO COME TO HONG KONG AS ILLEGAL
IMMIGRANTS. WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES
TO SEE IF THE PROCESS OF REPATRIATION CAN BE SPEEDED UP'', HE SAID.
AS FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG AFTER THE
INTRODUCTION OF THE SCREEING POLICY ON JUNE 16, 1988, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM REMAINS TO REPATRIATE TO
VIETNAM ALL THOSE FOUND NOT TO BE REFUGEES.
IN
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED
HONG KONG BEFORE JUNE 16 LAST YEAR WERE GIVEN REFUGEE STATUS AS A
RESULT OF THE INTERNATION UNDERSTANDING REACHED IN 1979.
''SOLUTION FOR THIS GROUP OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES LIES IN
RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS.
''TO FACILITATE THE RESETTLEMENT OF THESE REFUGEES, THE
GOVERNMENT HAS STARTED A GRADUAL LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME TO ENABLE
THEM TO DEVELOPM SOCIAL AND WORKING SKILLS.
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