THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1979
FIRM STANCE FOR REFUGEE PROBLEM URGED
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THE HON. LYDIA DUNN TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO URGENTLY DEVISE A FIRM POLICY TO DEAL WITH THE REFUGEE PROBLEM.
SHE ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE AD HOC MANNER IN DEALING WITH THE SITUATION, SHE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PASSIVE AND EVEN WAVERING ATTITUDE IS BEING EXPLOITED BY THE REFUGEES THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THE IR TRAFFICKERS.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMPTION OF THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MISS DUNN SAID THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM COULD BE POTENTIALLY MUCH GREATER THAN IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, AND REPRESENTS VERY MUCH GREATER STRESSES AND STRAINS.
SHE ASKED THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL WHY THE PREFERMENT OF CHARGES AGAINST SHIP-OWNERS AND MASTERS IS SUCH A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS AND WHETHER HE THINKS THE LAW, ITS ADMINISTRATION, OR OUR INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES, ARE DEFICIENT IN ANY RESPECT.
MISS DUNN SAID THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT BY TREATING THE REFUGEES IN A +HUMANITARIAN+ WAY, WE ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL SYMPATHY AND EXPEDITE THEIR ULTIMATE RESETTLEMENT.
THIS IS BELIED BY THE WOEFUL RECORD OF REFUGEES ACCEPTED BY OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, SHE SAID.
THE 4,000 PEOPLE WHO ARRIVED ON THE CLARA MAERSK IN 1975 TOOK THREE YEARS TO RESETTLE, AND FROM JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 22 THIS YEAR, 12,129 REFUGEES HAVE ARRIVED, BUT ONLY 1,771 HAVE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE QUOTA PLÁCES ON OFFER OF ONLY 6,000 FROM THE U.S.A. AND 2,340 FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UK, TO BE FILLED THIS YEAR.
AS FOR THE EMOTIVE CLAIM THAT REFUGEES, LIVING AS THEY DO IN APPALLING CONDITIONS ON BOARD SHIPS, DESERVÉ OUR PITY, MISS DUNN ASKED IF IT IS FAIR THAT THEY BE GIVEN PRIORITIES FOR FACILITIES WHEN SO MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN SQUATTER HUTS.
+ IT IS MISGUIDED TO VIEW THE REFUGEE PROBLEM SIMPLY IN PERSONAL TERMS. THE GOVERNMENT MUST VIEW THE PROBLEM IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON HONG KONG, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, SHE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT MUST ADOPT A HARD LINE AND NOT BE +SEDUCED BY THE HYPOCRISY AND BLANDISHMENTS OF THOSE GOVERNMENTS AND GROUPS WHO WOULD PREVAIL UPON US TO DO OTHERWISE.*
ITS OBLIGATION IS TO LOOK AFTER ITS OWN PEOPLE. IT MUST NOT ALLOW THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACCEPTING INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE TO BE OBSCURED — +ADDING TO OUR ALREADY DAUNTING HOUSING PROBLEM, A DETERIORATION IN LAW AND ORDER, A STRAIN ON OUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES, A SLOWING DOWN IN THE GROATH RATE OF OUR LIVING STANDARDS AND EVENTUALLY AN ACTUAL EROSION OF THOSE STANDARDS, + ALL OF WHICH WE HAVE STRUGGLED SO HARD TO ACHIEVE IN RECENT YEARS WITH NO OUTSIDE HELP, SHE SAID.