XN000022-1989-05-17 — Page 14

"THEY HAVE ENDURED THE

12.

EXPENDITURE, THE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989 ·

INCONVENIENCE, THE PEOPLE. THE UNFAIR

HIGHER THAN NORMAL CRIMI RATE OF VIETNAMESE BOAT TREATMENT, AND UNREALISTIC CRITICISMS ALL THESE YEARS.

BOAT

"BUT ALL. THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND HELP TO THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE ARE BRUSHED ASIDE CASUALLY BY THOUGHTLESS REMARKS FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUS INDIVIDUALS WHO APPEAR TO CARRY THE OPINION OF THE

WESTERN WORLD.

"TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, WE HAVE HERE A SITUATION WHICH CAN LEAD SOCIAL UNREST. IF THE TIME-BOMB IS NOT DEFUSED IN TIME, SHE SAID.

MRS FAN SAID IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR THE UK DELEGATION AT GENEVA CONFERENCE TO ACHIEVE THE TWIN OBJECTIVE OF RESETTLEMENT REPATRIATION WITH A CLEARLY DEFINED TIMETABLE.

RESETTLEMENT WITHOUT REPATRIATION WOULD

MORE BOAT PEOPLE TO HONG KONG.

ΤΟ

THE

AND

INADVERTENTLY ATTRACT

FOR HONG KONG, THE "BOTTOM LINE" WAS THAT ALL BOAT PEOPLE SCREENED OUT SHOULD BEGIN TO LEAVE THE TERRITORY BEFORE NEXT MARCH, EITHER THROUGH MANDATORY REPATRIATION OR BY BEING TRANSFERRED TO A REGIONAL RECEPTION CENTRE.

AND ALL VIETNAMESE REFUGEES STRANDED HERE SHOULD OVER A PERIOD OF THREF TO FIVE YEARS.

BE RESETTLED

SHE URGED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO UNITE AND SPEAK WITH A COMMON VOICE ON THE ISSUE, SO THAT IT WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE HEARD INTERNATIONALLY,

MRS PAN ACCUSED THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT OF BEING INCOMPETENT, INSINCERE AND IRRESPONSIBLE. AND OF HAVING USED ALL KINDS OF EXCUSES TO SHED ITS RESPONSIBILITY IN THE AFFAIR.

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VIETNAM'S EXCUSE FOR OBJECTING TO MANDATORY REPATRIATION WAS THAT IT WOULD BE INHUMANE" FOR IT TO TAKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BACK AGAINST THEIR WILL.

"BY INFERENCE, THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IS ACCUSING MANY COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD OF BEING INHUMANE. SINCE THESE COUNTRIES DO ACCEPT REPATRIATION OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENTERED ANOTHER COUNTRY ILLEGALLY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING STANDARDS,' SHE SAID.

"

SHE SAID THAT THE UNITED NATIONS AND SOME HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS, BY MOUNTING INTENSIVE LOBBYING EXERCISE IN THE WESTERN WORLD TO PREVENT MANDATORY REPATRIATION OF THE SCREENED OUT BOAT PEOPLE, WERE UNWITTINGLY AIDING THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT IN USING ITS OWN PEOPLE AS BARGAINING CHIPS IN GETTING FINANCIAL AID.

SHE NOTED THAT A SENIOR BRITISH OFFICIAL HAD ESTIMATED THAT VIETNAM, THROUGH EXPORTATION OF ITS PEOPLE, HAD OBTAINED IN 1987 AN INCOME FROM REMITTANCES AMOUNTING TO US$500 MILLION.

MRS FAN SAID IT WAS IRONIC THAT WHILE THE WEST WAS SORROWFUL OVER EVERY REPORT OF DEATH AT SEA AMONG THE BOAT PEOPLE. AND EVEN SUFFERED FROM A FEELING OF GUILT IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD SHOWN LITTLE CONCERN OVER THE WELL-BEING OF ITS OWN PEOPLE.

/"VIETNAM WANTS