THE SOLUTION TO THE EXODUS OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE:
AE U.... MUST LIFT THE TRADE EMBARGO & NORMALISE THEIR RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM
Following the European Community's decision on 22nd October to improve diplomatic and economic relations with Vietnam, the British Government should put pressure on the United States to normalise relations with Vietnam, rather than trying to persuade them to accept forced repatriation. The U.S. initiative to enter into a dialogue with Vietnam over Cambodia and the recent meetings in Washington with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister are a good start. The placement of a permanent U.S. representative in Hanoi to handle MIA issues should be a prelude to diplomatic relations.
There is now international realization that the solution to the problem of the exodus of people from Vietnam lies in the rehabilitation of Vietnam itself. This will remove the need for departures from Vietnam and at the same time help to solve the problem of the people stranded in Hong Kong. Normalisation of relations will provide the psychological boost required to encourage voluntary repatriation to pick up and Hong Kong should be able to avoid the stigma of another attempt at forced repatriation,
There has been a very sharp fall in arrivals of boat people in Hong Kong, with the numbers during Jan-Oct 1990 down 83% on 1989, from 33,600 to 5,700. This shows that the action by Vietnam to prevent departures has been effective, as have the combined efforts of the United Nations and the Hong Kong and British Governments in publicizing the futility of setting off for Hong Kong. Nevertheless, there remain 44,000 boat people in Hong Kong and it is essential that the rate of return should increase to at least 1,000 per month,
It is encouraging that new procedures have now been agreed to speed up the voluntary programme and that UNHCR counselling activities are to be stepped up so that those screened out understand the futility of remaining in the camps. The involvement of the UNHCR in persuading the boat people that their future must lie in Vietnam itself is a major step forward. This progress, however, is dealing with the symptoms, not the root cause of the problem.
Forced repatriation of tens of thousands of people is no solution to Hong Kong's dilemma. If an attempt was now made to return very large numbers, all the signs are that there would be trouble, and Hong Kong would not escape from appalling scenes which would be shown in the world media. The camps would become unmanageable and Hong Kong would be the subject of worldwide condemnation. Whatever the practical realities, the perception and drama attached to the boat people issue cannot be overlooked.
The Hong Kong Government's dilemma and the frustrations of Hong Kong people, who face uncertainties over their own future and are unhappy about the fate of Chinese illegal immigrants, are real. In addition, the continuing burden on Hong Kong's disciplined services, who work in the camps under difficult conditions and are already suffering from manpower shortages, must be acknowledged. However, in seeking solutions, we must constantly be alive to the wider issues for Hong Kong, which is, more than any other territory, dependent on its external relations: its trade is more than twice its GDP and the tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy. Hong Kong is currently being promoted and strengthened as an international city. It needs international support more than ever. A policy of mass repatriation by force would undermine all these efforts.
Although Vietnam has the potential to develop a sound economy, the short term prospects are poor, particularly as a result of the curtailment of Soviet block aid. Thus urgent action is now needed through the stimulus of full links with the West. Restoration of relations with the U.S. would be a first step towards revitalising the country, provided that Vietnam takes action to encourage foreign investment. The U.S. Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and elsewhere clearly recognise this and are pressing for a lifting of the trade embargo.
Hong Kong must press for this longer term solution and the U.S. must accept the direct link between solving the boat people problem and the restoration of their relations with Vietnam.
Martin Barrow
The Legislative Council
8 Jackson Road
Hong Kong
1st November 1990