XN000022-1979-05-23 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1979

BRITAIN TO PURSUE ALL POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE

RESETTLEMENT RATE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HK

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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL PURSUE ALL POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO INCREASE THE RATE OF RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AND WILL KEEP THE MATTER UNDER CAREFUL REVIEW, THE CHIEF SECRETARY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON, HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, THE HON. SIR JACK CATER SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS +SET A WELCOME LEAD IN JANUARY BY OFFERING TO RECEIVE 1,000 REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG.+

+HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IS ALSO SUPPORTING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN ITS APPEALS TO OTHER COUNTRIES TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES AVAILABLE IN THIRD COUNTRIES,+ HE SAID.

FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON OUR BEHALF REGARDING THE TRAFFICKING IN REFUGEES AND TO STRESS THE NEED TO COLLABORATE FULLY WITH THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES TO ACHIEVE AN ORDERLY OUTFLOW OF PEOPLE.

+THE SMALL BOAT REFUGEES PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. AND TO SOLVE THIS WE WILL HAVE TO RELY HEAVILY ON THE DIPLOMATIC ACTION UNDERTAKEN ON OUR BEHALF BY HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND IN SUPPORT OF UNHCR, HE SAID.

HONG KONG HAS ALSO REMAINED IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE UNITED STATES CONSUL GENERAL AND ITS GOVERNMENT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS IN WASHINGTON.

THIS IS BECAUSE MOST REFUGEES REGARDED THE U.S.A. AS THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRY OF THEIR FIRST CHOICE AND TO DATE, THE US AUTHORITIES HAVE PROVIDED BY FAR THE MAJORITY OF RESETTLEMENT PLACES, HE SAID.

MEANWHILE, HE ADDED, HONG KONG REMAINS ALERT AND VIGILANT AND EXPLORES EVERY MEANS OF RESTRICTING THE FLOW OF REFUGEES HERE.

BOTH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND BRITISH DIPLOMATIC POSTS IN THE REGION HAVE HELPED TO DEVISE A SYSTEM AIMED AT IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING SUSPECTED VESSELS WHICH MAY BE ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN THE TRAFFICKING REFUGEES.

+AS A RESULT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE PRE-EMPTIVE ACTION AGAINST SOME SUCH SHIPS, HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE ROYAL NAVY SHIPS AND BOTH THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AND RHKAAF AIRCRAFT ALSO CARRY OUT SEA AND AIR RECONNAISSANCE.

/+RESETTLEMENT