WEDNESDAY, MAY 17. 1989
26
SUGGESTION TO SHIP BACK VBP UNACCEPTABLE
THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY I HF WOULD NEVER AGREE TO THE "SOMEWHAT BIZARRE SUGGESTION" THAT THOUSANDS OF VIETNAMESE SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK TO THE COAST OF VIETNAM AND THERE COMMITTED TO THE SEAS TO ACCEPT WHATEVER
THE WEATHER AND THE
WATER WOULD PROVIDE.
FATE
"I WANT TO SAY THAT I WILL NEVER BE PARTY TO ANY HONG KONG POLICY OR PROCEDURE WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS RISK OF THE LOSS OF CRIME IS LIFE ON THE HIGH SEAS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHOSE ONLY THAT THEY SEEK A BETTER LIFE," HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE
SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, MR MCGREGOR SAID IT DID NOT NEED A GREAT BRAIN TO SEE THE EXTENT PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DIFFICULTIES.
OF
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE ANSWER WILL HAVE TO BE INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION BASED ON AGREEMENT BY VIETNAM, HOPEFULLY AT THE JUNE CONFERENCE, TO ACCEPT THEIR CITIZENS BACK.
"I DO NOT DOUBT EITHER THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS A IN THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINDING THE LONG TERM SOLUTION AND, MEANTIME, FOR MEETING THE HIGH COST TO THE HONG KONG AUTHORITIES OF MAINTAINING THE CAMPS," HE SAID.
OR MR MCGREGOR SAID THE PROBLEM HAD TO BE TACKLED WITHOUT HEAT RANCOUR AND CERTAINLY WITHOUT ENCOURAGING RACIAL TENSION AND
DISCRIMINATION.
"WE ARE LEADERS, NOT RACISTS, AND WE SHOULD ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT LOGICALLY, NOT WITH A SENSE OF MOUNTING HYSTERIA, HE SAID.
++
MR MCGREGOR SAID HE HAD BEEN SADDENED MANY TIMES то HEAR NORMALLY REASONABLE AND KINDLY PEOPLE SPOKE OF THE VIETNAMESE WITH MOUNTING ANGER AND VITUPERATION OFTEN WITH THE IMPLICATION THAT SOMEHOW THEY WERE ALL CRIMINALS TO BE KEPT VERY FAR AWAY FROM DECENT LAW ABIDING PEOPLE.
"THEY ARE NOT CRIMINALS," HE SAID. "THEIR COUNTRY HAD BEEN A WAR FOR HALF A CENTURY AND IS CLOSE ΤΟ ECONOMIC DEATH WITH HARDLY ENOUGH TO FEED TO POPULATION.
It
HOW DESPERATE THESE PEOPLE MUST BE TO SET SAIL AS THEY DID.
IN HOW MANY OF US IN HONG KONG, ACCUSTOMED TO LEAVING
THOUSANDS FOR
YET OTHER COUNTRIES, WOULD
SET OFF WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AS THE VIETNAMESE DID, INTO UNKNOWN WATERS, HE ASKED.
"THE INCREASING FRUSTRATION THAT WE FEEL AT THE CONTINUING INFLUX AND THE ANXIETY TO BRING IT TO A HALT SHOULD NOT, I THINK, BLIND US TO THE TERRIBLE BACKGROUND TO THIS ENORMOUS HUMAN TRAGEDY, THIS FLOOD OF HOPELESS HUMANITY SURGING ALONG A DANGEROUS CIRCUITOUS ROUTE LIKELY TO FINISH UP WHERE THEY STARTED," HE SAID.
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