people in December 1989.
an
Some Members may complain that the international community holds Hong Kong to a far more stringent standard than countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, which have all but stopped serving as ports of first asylum. This may well be true, but I am afraid it is a price that we have to pay if we wish to continue to be For the very internationally respected economic centre. values that have won us the respect of the world--the rule of
law, the protection of the rights of individuals, and the honest, hard-working nature of our people--are the ones which would be hurt most severely were Britain to abandon the policy of first
asylum.
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At a time when Hong Kong is particularly dependent on the international community on a wide range of issues including trade, participation in multi-lateral organisations like APEC, extended and flexible immigration policies, and MFN for China, we must be acutely aware of our own image and
And, there are reputation in the international community. few things that could do greater harm to that reputation than an abandonment of the policy of first asylum. I agree with the Honourable Stephen Cheong that to suggest that the abandonment of the policy of first asylum will solve all our
If our problems regarding the VBP issue is over simplistic. citizens were asked this question: "Do you support the abandonment of the policy of first asylum?" I expect most of them would say "yes". But if they were asked a second question: "Do you support the renewal of MFN status to China?" I expect the same people would also say "yes". But do they know that the two may be mutually exclusive for the reasons which my honourable colleague, Mr Martin Barrow, will give in due course. And I thank him for letting me have an advance copy of his dratt speech.
Rather than urge the United Kingdom to abandon the policy of first asylum, we should push instead for the full
The CPA implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action. states that "persons determined not to be refugees should return to their country of origin. Clearly it would be best if all non-refugees were to
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