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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988
IN THE CURRENT YEAR NO MORE THAN 2,600 REFUGEES WERE EXPECTED ΤΟ BE RESETTLED, WHICH, THOUGH SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN THE 2,200 RESETTLED LAST YEAR, WAS A FAR FROM SATISFACTORY RATE, HE SAID.
"I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WASTES NO OPPORTUNITY IN MAKING THIS POINT TO RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, HE SAID.
"I BELIEVE OUR BEST PROSPECT FOR A MAJOR INCREASE IN RESETTLEMENT QUOTAS LIES IN THE EFFORTS NOW BEING MADE TO ORGANISE AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES.
"I HOPE THAT A PACKAGE PROCESS WHICH WILL INCLUDE AN RESETTLED FROM HONG KONG."
OF SOLUTIONS WILL EMERGE FROM THIS INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES
MR BARNES NOTED THAT THE NEED FOR A GENERAL INCREASE IN RESETTLEMENT HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO LONDON, AND THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD CONTINUE TO EMPHASISE THE VERY IMPORTANT POINT THAT OTHER COUNTRIES COULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO HELP HONG KONG WITHOUT A FURTHER AND MORE GENEROUS COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE UK.
HOWEVER, HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ONE MILLION POUNDS STERLING HAD RECENTLY BEEN DONATED BY THE UK GOVERNMENT TO THE UNHCR FOR USE SPECIFICALLY IN HONG KONG,
TURNING TO REPATRIATION, MR BARNES RECALLED THAT DURING THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS IN LONDON WITH OFFICIAL FROM THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, BOTH SIDES ACCEPTED THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS COVERING ALL VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG AFTER JUNE 15 AND WHO DID NOT QUALIFY AS GENUINE REFUGEES.
"WE ALSO AGREED THAT AN IMMEDIATE START SHOULD BE MADE BY COMPLETING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RETURN OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED TO GO BACK TO VIETNAM, HE SAID.
*
"WE, THE UNHCR AND THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES ARE NOW WORKING ON THESE ARRANGEMENTS WITH A VIEW TO GETTING THE FIRST GROUP HOME BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, HE SAID.
"AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SUCH RETURNS THE UNHCR IS WORKING ON A MODEL REPATRIATION AND REINTEGRATION PACKAGE FOR RETURNEES.
"THE BRITISH SIDE IS READY IN PRINCIPLE то MAKE A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNHCR IN SUPPORT OF THIS PACKAGE, [C HE ADDED.
MR BARNES ALSO ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE LIBERALISATION PROGRAMME FOR THE CLOSED CENTRES WAS BEING PLANNED SYSTEMATICALLY IMPLEMENTED CAUTIOUSLY.
USEFUL.
AND
"THE WORKING GROUPS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND ARE PROVING
"I THINK MANY OF THE FEARS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS WERE BASED ON A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PLANS AND I HOPE THAT, THROUGH THE PARTICIPATION OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MANY OF THESE CONCERNS BE ALLAYED, HE SAID.
CAN
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