XN000022-1988-10-20 — Page 37

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1988

FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS TO RESOLVE REFUGEE PROBLEM

* * *

HELP

HIGH

CONDITIONS ARE MORE FAVOURABLE NOW FOR THE UNITED NATIONS

TO APPROACH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR), BRITAIN AND HONG KONG

RESOLVE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND SEEK A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO

BARNES, THE REFUGEE PROBLEM, SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE SAID, "THIS WILL BE OUR INTENTION DURING THE COMING MONTHS,

OPPORTUNITY OF HIS CURRENT ADDING THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TAKING THE

INCREASE

VISIT

TO

PRESS

то EUROPE RESETTLEMENT QUOTAS.

COUNTRIES

THERE

TO

THEIR

FAN ON MR BARNES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RITA

REFUGEES STRANDED IN HONG THE RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS OF VIETNAMESE KONG.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORKED OF THE

NOTING THAT THE UNHCR HAD THE PRIMARY RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT

CONSULATES AND COMMISSIONS CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL UNHCR AND MAIN RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

IS MATCHED

BY

OWN GOVERNMENT'S CAPITALS, MR BARNES

THE BRITISH "THIS EFFORT EFFORTS ON OUR BEHALF IN LONDON AND IN FOREIGN SAID.

"

HAD A CONTINUING RESETTLEMENT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ITSELF PROGRAMME OPERATING ON HONG KONG'S BEHALF, HE ADDED.

IN MAY, 1987, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

A

ACCEPT DECIDED TO FOR

IN FROM

RESETTLEMENT

UNITED HONG KONG REFUGEES FURTHER 468

OF 20 PER KINGDOM, UNDER RELAXED FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA, AT A RATE MONTH, SPREAD OVER TWO YEARS, MR BARNES NOTED.

HE SAID THE OFFTAKE STARTED IN JULY LAST YEAR AND 320 HAD RESETTLED SO FAR.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS CONTINUING TO KEEP UNDER REVIEW ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING RESETTLEMENT, MR BARNES SAID.

BEEN

ALL

/HE THEN