XN000022-1979-04-12 — Page 11

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THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1979

ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO REFUGEE PROBLEM

IS CONTROLLED OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM

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THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF THOSE WHO WISH TO LEAVE VIETNAM IS A SCHEME WHICH WILL ENSURE A CONTROLLED OUTFLOW FROM THAT COUNTRY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THAT IF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR A PROGRAMME OF ORDERLY DEPARTURES FORMULATED DURING THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES' RECENT VISIT TO HANOI CAN BE MADE TO WORK, AND THERE IS THE WILL TO WORK THEM IN VIETNAM AND RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, WE SHOULD SEE MUCH NEEDED ORDER COMING INTO THE OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE,

+ THE OTHER SOLUTION, HE ADDED, IS TO GET THESE REFUGEES MOVED ON TO COUNTRIES WHERE THEY CAN SETTLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.+

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MR. DAVIES EMPHASISED THAT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WERE LANDED HERE ONLY TEMPORARILY, PENDING RESETTLEMENT BY UNHCR IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

HE NOTED THAT ON APRIL 11, THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG STOOD AT 17,650. OF THESE, 5,600 HAD BEEN HANDED OVER TO THE UNHCR, 9.400 WERE IN GOVERNMENT CAMPS AND WOULD BE HANDED OVER TO UNHCR AS SOON AS IT COULD PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION, AND 2,642 ON BOARD THE SKYLUCK.

RESETTLEMENT FIGURES SO FAR THIS YEAR AND ESTIMATES FOR THE FUTURE WERE NOT PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING HOWEVER. +WE ARE PRESSING UNHCR AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO INCREASE THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT AND ARE SEEK ING TO OBTAIN FURTHER OFFERS.+

MR. DAVIES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS VIGOROUSLY PURSUING ITS EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE ARRIVAL OF LARGE SHIPS LOADED WITH PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM,

THESE INCLUDED A SYSTEM OF IDENTIFYING AND DISCOURAGING BIG SHIPS WHICH MAY BE ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN THE TRADE, KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS AND WHEN NECESSARY TAKING CONCERTED ACTION AGAINST SUCH SHIPS, SEA AND AIR RECONNAISSANCES TO PROVIDE AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM AND SOME DETERRENT, AND NEWLY AMENDED LEGISLATION.

MR. DAVIES REJECTED THE CONTENTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN PASSIVE AND WAVERING IN ITS ATTITUDE. THE RECORD OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN COMING TO GRIPS WITH THIS INTRACTABLE PROBLEM IS BY NO MEANS NEGATIVE, HE SAID.

IN FACT, ACTION TAKEN HAD DISCOURAGED OTHER SHIPS GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS OF CARRYING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE, AND AT LEAST ONE SHIP WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED FROM LOADING.

MR. DAVIES