XN000022-1988-05-04 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1988

30

TALKS HELD WITH COUNTRIES ON REFUGEE ISSUE

HONG KONG HAS CONDUCTED WORKING LEVEL DISCUSSIONS VIETNAMESE REFUGEE ISSUE WITH COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM REGION, WITH THE AIM OF FINDING OUT HOW SIMILAR PROBLEMS ARE IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND ASSESSING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A APPROACH ON THESE MATTERS.

ON THE

IN THE

HANDLED COMMON

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL MR BARNES SAID THAT THE ADMINISTRATION EXPRESSED BY THE COMMUNITY ON THE ISSUE.

1988,

UNDERSTOOD THE FRUSTRATION

"THE MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS FRUSTRATION MUST, HOWEVER, BE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH PERPETUATE THE FLOW OF PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM IN SMALL BOATS," HE SAID.

"IN THIS CONNECTION THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND OUR NEIGHBOURS IN THE REGION HAVE CONTINUED TO URGE VIETNAM TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS ΤΟ STOP THIS UNHAPPY TRAFFIC, BUT WITH LITTLE SUCCESS.

..

"MEANWHILE HONG KONG ONCE AGAIN FACES THE PROSPECT OF INCREASING NUMBERS OF BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING ON OUR SHORES.

"OVER 2,600 HAVE ARRIVED THIS YEAR, 1,381 IN APRIL ALONE.

F

MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES, WHICH HAD COLLECTIVELY DONE MUCH TO EASE HONG KONG'S BURDEN OVER THE LAST DECADE, FOUND THEMSELVES UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO MAINTAIN PREVIOUS LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE.

THEIR

THE OFFTAKE THIS YEAR HAD BEEN ONLY 839.

"SOME RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE NOW SAYING THAT MOST OF THOSE ARRIVING NO LONGER FALL WITHIN THEIR CRITERIA FOR RESETTLEMENT, THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER FLEEING POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR RACIAL PERSECUTION, BUT TO A LARGE EXTENT ARE SIMPLY PEOPLE SEEKING A BETTER LIFE,

HE SAID.

11

"SINCE 1975 MORE THAN 116,000 REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM HAVE SOUGHT AND BEEN GRANTED FIRST ASYLUM IN HONG KONG.

NOTING THAT HONG KONG HAD MET ITS RESPONSIBILITIES FULLY FOR 13 YEARS, HE SAID CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS THAT HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES SHOULD NOT BE EXPLOITED WAS UNDERSTANDABLE.

"THIS IS