ROYAKY
VIETNAMESE BORN PEOPLE IN HONG KONG:
UK DONATION OF £6 MILLION TO UNHCR APPEAL
Q:
Have you received any comments from the Foreign Affairs Committee on conditions in the camps?
A.
No.
Q.
Is this decision in response to criticism in the HK that you
are not doing enough to help?
A.
No. We have always done all we can to help and support Hong Kong in this. For example:
our recent decision to take an additional 1,000 refugees from
Hong Kong and to double our monthly intake.
Our Diplomatic campaign (lobbied 21 countries and helped to generate some 4,000 new places for refugees from Hong Kong in 1989).
2 donations of £1 million to UNHCR programme in HK in 1988/89.
Contribution of USD 125,000 to UNHCR repatriation programme for
those who have asked to return to Vietnam.
Q.
A.
Hong Kong can afford to meet this cost themselves?
The problem of Vietnamese boat people has long been recognised
an international one. Not reasonable to expect HK to face the
burden alone. Given our special responsibility for HK right that we
should respond generously to UNHCR appeal at this time.
as
Q. Doesn't the answer lie in mandatory repatriation of
non-refugees?
A.
Since the new policy was introduced in June 1988 we have made
it clear that all non-refugees should return to Vietnam, subject to
satisfactory safeguards for their treatment on return. Ultimately