A.
INTRODUCTION
6.1.
6.2.
After a preliminary examination of some relevant issues, I believe that it is possible that much of the effort put into this problem by Hong Kong government officials may be in some important measure misdirected. There is no doubting the effort and expense being put into the problems; rather I believe that somewhere along the line, something seems to be going wrong. I believe, if I may say so, that I could perhaps contribute towards putting the system right, if given access detailed working procedures, files and personnel. I know this is presumptuous, but I believe it may be true. Overall, I fear that unless there is an attempt to come to grips with the actual problems faced by asylum-seekers and by those working on refugee affairs, there will be graver problems arising in Hong Kong over the 6-1/2 years before the transfer of sovereignty. It may be that most people can agree on aims. Effective steps towards those aims do not yet appear to be satisfactorily in place. I should add that I have heard that the PRC has declared that by 1997 all asylum-seekers must have gone. Ι would like to understand its position better.
In October 1990, the Governor of Hong Kong indicated that:-
"The Government's policy will continue to be directed towards
the full implementation of the 1989 Comprehensive Plan of Action. This means that all those who do not qualify for refugee status must return to their homes in Vietnam. The Plan of Action has been under great strain elsewhere in South East Asia during the past year. If it is to be the basis for policy throughout the region and I have no doubt that this is the most humane and effective answer to a long-standing problem - then we must get in place arrangements for the orderly return of non-refugees. The agreement reached in Hanoi on 21st September is a welcome step in this process. We now look to the staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to do all they can to counsel and persuade non-refugees to accept the reality of their position, and to return to their homes, in Vietnam. We will give our full
1 support to this effort.'
11
I agree about the need to get "arrangements" in place.
I have not yet done research on the CPA; neither have I yet familiarised myself with the implications of the change of policy away from holding all boat people automatically to be refugees.
6.3.
The Governor said also that:
"The careful operation of our screening procedures; the