XN000022-1979-05-23 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1979

+RESETTLEMENT IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR HONG KONG, NOR FOR THE COUNTRIES OF SOUTH EAST ASIA, TO SOLVE ALONE THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM REQUIRING CONCERTED INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS: IT DEMANDS, IT REQUIRES A MUCH GREATER EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE PART OF THOSE WELL-ENDOWED WITH RESOURCES, WHO UNDOUBTEDLY COULD DO MORE TO HELP. +

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID HE BELIEVES THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF AND PLAYS A ROLE IN THE TRAFFICKING OF REFUGEES.

REPLYING TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AS TO THE POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IN THE EXODUS, SIR JACK SAID I HAVE NO DOUBT, AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT, THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF AND IS PARTY TO THIS DISGUSTING TRADE IN HUMAN MISERY.+

HE ADDED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO IMPRESS ON THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT +AN ABHORRENCE OF THE POLICIES WHICH HAD DRIVEN SO MANY PEOPLE TO FLEE THAT COUNTRY OFTEN AT A GREAT RISK TO THEIR LIVES.+

ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER ISSUING VISITOR'S VISAS TO REFUGEES IMMEDIATELY UPON LANDING HERE SO THAT THEY COULD APPROACH UNHCR FOR RESETTLEMENT FORMALITIES OR OTHER AIDS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID ANY CHANGE IN THE PRESENT PROCEDURES WOULD NEED VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

SIR JACK SAID WHILE THE UNHCR HAD RESETTLED SOME 3,300 REFUGEES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES EXPECTED TO BE RESETTLED IN THIRD COUNTRIES DURING THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE LESS THAN ORIGINALLY HOPED BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDS.

HE AGREED WITH THE HON. T.S. LO THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE RESETTLED WAS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN FOUR PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBERS COMING IN, FROM BOTH VIETNAM AND CHINA.

+IT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL FIGURE, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT AT PRESENT THERE IS A CERTAIN SLOWNESS IN THE UNHCR IN TAKING REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AND IT IS HOPED THAT THIS MAY BE IMPROVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

+ BUT WHAT IS REQUIRED IS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNHCR PEOPLE HERE AND I MIGHT SAY IN MACAU TOO,✦ HE SAID.

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