SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1989
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RETURNING TO VIETNAM THE ONLY OPTION FOR VBP IN HK: CS
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THE ONLY OPTION FOR THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT AS NOT BEING GENUINE REFUGEES IS TO GO BACK ΤΟ VIETNAM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
"WE HAVE EMBARKED ON A PROGRAMME OF CONTINUING REPATRIATION OF ALL THOSE WHO ARE SCREENED OUT AND THE PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEW YEAR, SIR DAVID SAID.
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"T THINK THAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL THE BOAT PEOPLE HERE THAT THEIR FUTURE, IF THEY ARE SCREENED OUT, LIES IN VIETNAM.
THE WORLD HAS GROWN WEARY OF THE PROBLEM AND THE PROSPECTS OF THEIR BEING RESETTLED OVERSEAS ARE NOW NOT AN OPTION FOR THEM.
"IT IS MUCH MORE HUMANE FOR THEM TO RETURN TO THEIR OWN HOME THAN TO FACE THE PROSPECT OF BEING DETAINED IN HONG KONG FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME WITH NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO BE DETAINED.
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HE SAID
REPATRIATION
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THAT WE MUST PUT IN PLACE A VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME AND A MANDATORY RUNNING SIDE BY SIDE.
HEיך
PROGRAMME OF
PROGRAMME
"AND THAT IS OUR PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR.'
THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CAPTIVE WATERFOWL COLLECTION OF THE WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON A DECISION THAT THERE WOULD ONLY BE I DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE AFTER 1997, SID DAVID SAID IT WAS TOO EARLY TO MAKE A JUDGEMENT ON WHAT MIGHT APPEAR IN THE FINAL BASIC LAW.
ON ITS EFFECT ON HONG KONG'S POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, SAID WE WOULD WISH TO TAKE ACCOUNT IN 1991 OF THE VIEWS OF PEOPLE WITCH WOULD BE A KEY PACTOR IN OUR DECISION FOR 1991
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SIR DAVID HONG KONG
"I THINK IT TS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CONTINUITY OVER THE PERIOD OF 1997. BUT IT 1S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT ANYTHING WE DO IN 1991 SHOULD REFLECT THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PROPLE. THAT IS HOW WE MUST MOVE FORWARD, HE ADDED.
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