XN000022-1987-01-07 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1987

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REPATRIATE ALL ECONOMIC MIGRANTS

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ALL ECONOMIC MIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM SHOULD BE REPATRIATED, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID IT WAS NOW BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO RESETTLE NORTH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AS MOST OF THEM WERE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE CATEGORY OF ECONOMIC MIGRANTS AND NOT GENUINE REFUGEES FLEEING FROM PERSECUTION.

THEREFORE, THE TIME HAD COME FOR PARALLEL ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY BOTH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM.

+THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD MORE POSITIVELY EXPLORE ALL POSSIBLE AVENUES TO URGE THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT — WHICH INCIDENTALLY HAS RECENTLY HAD A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP — TO ACCEPT REPATRIATION FROM HONG KONG OF ALL ECONOMIC MIGRANTS WHO COME FROM VIETNAM, NORTH AND SOUTH,✦ HE SAID.

HE SAID THE FOREIGN OFFICE SHOULD NOT ONLY SEEK TO PUT FORWARD ITS VIEW DIRECT TO THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, BUT SHOULD ALSO ENLIST THE GOOD OFFICES OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAD SOME DIALOGUE WITH VIETNAM, SUCH AS AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN, TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE VIETNAMESE.

+FURTHERMORE, THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER IS EXPECTED TO VISIT RUSSIA IN THE COMING MONTHS COULD SHE NOT RAISE THE SUBJECT WITH THE RUSSIANS WHO HAVE STRONG TIES WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT?+ HE ASKED.

AS FOR HONG KONG, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE CLOSED-CAMP DETERRENT WAS BEGINNING SOMEWHAT TO RUN OUT OF STEAM, AND HONG KONG MUST NOW CONSIDER STRONGER ALTERNATIVES, SINCE BRITAIN HAD ADOPTED A DEFENSIVE AND NEGATIVE STANCE IN ACCEPTING MORE REFUGEES FROM THE TERRITORY.

+ I WOULD THEREFORE URGE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE FIRM DECISION THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT THAT IS AS SOON AS THE LOGISTIC ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE COMPLETED - ALL VIETNAMESE REFUGEES COMING TO HONG KONG WHO ARE NOT GENUINE POLITICAL REFUGEES, WILL BE REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM JUST AS SOON AS NEGOTIATIONS ARE FINALISED WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

A PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED AND CLEAR-CUT STATEMENT OF POLICY TO THIS EFFECT SHOULD HELP TO STEM THE INCREASING TIDE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO WERE PLANNING OR WANTED TO COME TO HONG KONG.

/IT MIGHT