WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987
5
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT UNITED KINGDOM HAD A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND A COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. THEREFORE, HE ASKED THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO PERMIT HỒNG KÔNG TO MAKE ITS OWN DECISION WHEN THE ISSUE UNDER CONSIDERATION WAS OF VITAL INTEREST TO ITS PEOPLE.
HE ADDED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST BE URGED TO ACCEPT FROM HONG KONG A REALISTIC NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:
(1) THOSE HAVING RELATIVES (IN THE ORIENTAL SENSE OF THE TERM)
IN UNITED KINGDOM;
(11)
THOSE HAVING BEEN EARLIER SELECTED BY UNITED KINGDOM FOR RESETTLEMENT BUT REJECTED THE OFFERS AND
(111) THE +HARD-TO-RESETTLE REFUGEES, NOTABLY THOSE FROM NORTH
VIETNAM OR ECONOMIC MIGRANTS.
DR HO ALSO SAID THAT AS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST BE URGED TO INITIATE DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT REGARDING REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES.
+TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THIS DIPLOMATIC ENDEAVOUR, HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT MIGHT WELL BE ADVISED TO PERSUADE OTHER COUNTRIES AND THE UNHCR TO JOIN IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, HE SAID.
SCREENING SYSTEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED *****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SETTING UP A STRINGENT SCREENING SYSTEM+ TO PROCESS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES COMING TO HONG KONG SO THAT ONLY +POLITICAL+ REFUGEES WOULD BE ACCEPTED IN FUTURE, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, MR HUI SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD CONTINUED TO EMPLOY DELAYING TACTICS IN HANDLING THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES PROBLEM. IT HAD TIME AND AGAIN IGNORED THE FEELINGS OF LOCAL PEOPLE AND ALSO THE TWO REQUESTS REFLECTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THROUGH THE LATE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY.
HE SAID THIS HAD INEVITABLY CAST DOUBT UPON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S PROMISE TO LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.
/MR HUI