1989-04-03 15:55 GOVERNMENT HOUSE
852 5 810 1592 P.02
Pistrict Board Chairmen of Hong Kong, c/o Chairman of Kowloon City District, Kowloon City District Office, 141-143 Kau Pui Lung Road, Kowloon, HONG KONG.
28th March, 1989.
Rt. Hon. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, M.P.,
Prime Minister,
10 Downing Street,
London,
SWIA 2AA.
UNITED KINGDOM.
Dear Prime Minister,
The conspicuous social strain and impact on the people of Hong Kong caused by the Vietnamese Boat People problem are matters of grave concern to the undesigned. We, the District Board Chairmen of Hong Kong whe are in close contact with residents of our respective districts, always assume the role a mediator reconciling differences between public opinion and Government policies. But we feel that it is more and more Gifficult to breach the gap on this issue.
We do understand the difficulties and political constraints faced by the Hong Kong Government in handling this matter bgt find it virtually impossible to make members of the public to share oor understanding.
Our Governor's recent announcement that the British Government has agreed to increase the intake of Vietnamese Refugees unconditionally to one thousand persons annually is certainly a piece of good news welcome by the people of Hong Kong. But this encouraging policy fails to bring about a real solution to the problem and dispel the growing sense of frustration prevailing in the minds of the people of Hong Kong caused by the remoteness of a solution to the problem.
In the absence of any effective measures taken either by the Vietnamese Government or by the Hong Kong Government to prevent Vietnemese Boat People coming here, there is no end to the problem. Since the Hong Kong Government cannot without the help of its sovereign state exert any political pressure on the Vietnamese Government to stop the outflow of Vietnamese Boat People, we have no alternative but to seek your help. We hope that you would commit your political power to bring international to hear on the Vietnamese Government. It the Vietnamese Government fails to self-regulate. we hope you would allow the Hong Kong Government to adopt the mandatory repatriation policy which is consistent with international practice and put an end to the continuing saga.
pressure
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