HKA 020/14
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167333
MDLIAN 1331
29
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FM HONG KONG
TO ROUTINE FCO
TELNO 781
OF 130204Z MARCH 92
сте
INFO ROUTINE HANOI, UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON, UKREP BRUSSELS
VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: LEGCO ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION.
1. LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS HELD AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON 11 MARCH ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. THE DEBATE WAS MOVED BY MARTIN BARROW. 8 OTHER NON-OFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE. THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY REPLIED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
2. MARTIN BARROW AND THE OTHER 8 NON-OFFICIALS URGED HKG AND HMG TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON THE AMERICANS TO LIFT THE EMBARGO. MEMBERS UNSURPRISINGLY SUPPORTED GREATER EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE VOLUNTARY RETURN SCHEME, AND MOST SUPPORTED THE ORDERLY PROGRAMME. A FEW TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SNIPE AT HMG FOR NOT/NOT MEETING A GREATER SHARE OF THE COSTS OF FIRST ASYLUM HERE, AND NOT/NOT RESETTLING MORE REFUGEES. BARROW SUGGESTED THAT HONG KONG CONSIDER SOME FORM OF AID TO VIETNAM TO HELP IMPROVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THERE, AND MRS FAN (EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER) FLOATED THE IDEA OF POSSIBLE HELP FROM HONG KONG IN INCREASING VIETNAM'S RECEPTION CAPACITY FOR RETURNEES IN DUE COURSE. THESE SUGGESTIONS EXCITED LITTLE COMMENT FROM OTHER MEMBERS.
3. IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY SAID THAT WE SHARED MEMBERS' BELIEF THAT ENDING THE EMBARGO AND NORMALISATION WOULD IMPROVE VIETNAM'S ECONOMIC PROSPECTS AND THUS BRING AN EARLY END TO THE MIGRANT PROBLEM. HE ALSO EXPLAINED WHAT WE AND UNHCR WERE DOING TO COUNSEL PEOPLE TO GO HOME (MENTIONING SAUVAGOET AND THE EC INFORMATION PROGRAMME), AND UNDERLINED THE SUCCESS OF ORP AND THE PARALLEL VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
4. THE ONE-HOUR DEBATE RECEIVED ONLY MODERATE PRESS COVERAGE HERE.
WILSON
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