2
announced on 20 December would have made provision for
But they also welcomed what we had done
more people.
as a measure which would give key people the confidence
to remain in Hong Kong. They recognise that it was not
an easy step to take, and they are following carefully
the discussion in this country. They all hoped that it
will be possible for Parliament to give its approval
and for the scheme to begin to operate. I assured them
that the Government were fully committed to the
proposal.
The second issue discussed was the repatriation of
Vietnamese boat people. No-one in Hong Kong involved
in the repatriation of Vietnamese boat people takes
satisfaction in what had to be done, but the result
achieved was necessary.
Having seen the camps for
myself, I am more than ever convinced that return to
Vietnam in carefully controlled conditions is
preferable to camp life with no hope of resettlement
elsewhere. Hong Kong has paid a high price for its
principled policy of first asylum. We cannot expect
them to receive this year the same number of boat
people over 30,000 that they received last year.
There is nowhere for those boat people to go. The
policy of repatriation is therefore the right one, and
I hope that this may soon be endorsed by the
international community. I am grateful to my rt hon