WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987
+IN FACT, THE MOST INHUMANE COUNTRIES ARE THOSE WHICH CAUSED THE EXODUS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE FIRST PLACE,+ HE SAID.
+SECOND ON THE LIST WOULD BE THOSE COUNTRIES WITH VAST EXPANSE OF LAND AND VAST RESOURCES, YET WHICH DECLINED TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES.+
MR POON SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED AND DISSATISFIED WITH THOSE COUNTRIES WHICH EMPHASISED HUMANITY ON THE ONE HAND WHILE REFUSING TO ACCEPT MORE REFUGEES ON THE OTHER.
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAD NOW BECOME A HEAVY BURDEN IN HONG KONG AND AFFECTED, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, SOCIAL WELFARE, HOUSING, TRANSPORT, EDUCATION, MEDICAL SERVICES AND EVEN OVERALL STABILITY AND PROSPERITY.
THEREFORE, HE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, FORMULATE A MORE APPROPRIATE POLICY CONCERNING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
IMMEDIATE REVIEW OF 11 POLICY ADVOCATED
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THE GOVERNMENT WAS URGED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE HON HO SAI-CHU TO IMMEDIATELY REVIEW ITS POLICY TOWARDS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
+ IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY UNFAIR TO HONG KONG IF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WERE ALLOWED TO STAY HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND SHARE OUR LIMITED RESOURCES,+ MR HO SAID DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
BY REPATRIATING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AND ACCEPTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM WITHOUT A GOOD CAUSE, HONG KONG WOULD DEFINITELY BE ACCUSED OF FAVOURING THE LATTER AND BEING PREJUDICED AGAINST THE FORMER, HE SAID.
+1 WOULD CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY REVIEW THE REPATRIATION POLICY TO ENSURE A FAIR AND UNIFORM STANDARD IN IMPLEMENTATION, HE ADDED.
HE ALSO CALLED ON THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE LEAD IN INCREASING ITS QUOTA FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES SO AS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO FOLLOW SUIT.
/THE BRITISH