27-MAY-1992 15:46
OMELCO
+ 852 845 2444
P.03
BOAT PEOPLE STRANDED IN HONG KONG: CHANGE OF U.S. POLICY ESSENTIAL THE U.S. SHOULD LIFT THE TRADE EMBARGO & NORMALISE RELATIONS WITH VIETNAM
The Cambodian settlement and the renewed dialogue in 1991 between the United States and Vietnam are encouraging developments. The posting of a permanent U.S. representative to Hanoi to handle MIA cases and the start of a modest aid programme should be the harbinger of diplomatic relations. Britain, the European Community, and ASEAN, should press the U.S. Government to lift its embargo and normalise relations forthwith.
It is now widely accepted that the answer to the region's boat people problem is closely linked to U.S. policy. If that can be directed to the rehabilitation of Vietnam by means of resumed diplomatic and trade relations rather than to its continued isolation, there is a hope that the Vietnamese will be encouraged to build their future at home. More importantly, the readmission of Vietnam to the international community and resumed economic growth will provide the much needed psychological incentive to those now in camps in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the region to return to Vietnam under the voluntary repatriation programme.
There has been a very encouraging pick up in the voluntary programme, with 9000 returning during Oct. 91 to May 92. A return rate of 1500 per month is now a realistic target for the remainder of 1992. New procedures are, however, required to speed up the return programme and efforts in the camps to publicize the futility of hanging on should be sustained and increased, with counselling and "marketing" efforts..
Most of those who have volunteered are recent arrivals. Persuading those who have already been in the camps two years or more is not easy. Hence the need to reimbue them with the hope that life in Vietnam will start to improve. Clearly, normalisation by the U.S. will not lead to an immediate boom in Vietnam, but it will provide the catalyst for improvements in the domestic situation.
With U.S. help, the boat people will recognise that their only future lies in Vietnam and the majority will return under the voluntary programme. This will enable Hong Kong to minimize the use of force in pursuing the "orderly" programme.
Vietnam's potential to develop a strong economy is clear. But the short term prospects are poor, particularly following the curtailment of Soviet Bloc aid. Thus the stimulus of full economic links with the West is urgently needed. Restored relations with the U.S. would be the first step in the process of putting life back into the economy, provided that it goes hand in hand with continued economic reform by the Vietnamese Government. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong has already recognized this and is pressing for the lifting of the embargo. It is time that the U.S. Government also accepted the case for a change of policy. When it does so, there will be a warm welcome in Hong Kong and elsewhere in the region.
It is hoped that the British Government can keep up the pressure on the United States.
Martin Barrow
The Legislative Council, 8 Jackson Road, Hong Kong
27th May 1992