XN000022-1989-05-17 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989

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MR ΤΑΙ STRESSED THAT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD SUFFERED SERIOUSLY DUE TO THE BOAT PEOPLE ISSUE, OTING THAT A CREDIBLE GOVERNMENT WAS MOST IMPORTANT DURING THIS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

BALANCING THE VARIOUS FACTORS INVOLVED, HE SAID UNLESS THERE WAS SOME VERY POSITIVE SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL FROM THE GENEVA CONFERENCE IN JUNE, HONG KONG COULD NOT CONTINUE WITH THE PRESENT POLICY OF BEING THE PORT OF FIRST ASYLUM.

IN PART, THE INITIATIVE FOR CHANGING THIS POLICY RESTED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

A MATTER SOLELY IN CONTROL OF UK

THE DECISION IN 1979 THAT HONG KONG BE A PORT OF FIRST ASYLUM WAS ONE CONCERNING EXTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THEREFORE CONSTITUTIONALLY THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ISSUE WAS A MATTER SOLELY IN THE CONTROL OF BRITAIN, THE HON RONALD ARCULLI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, MR ARCULLI SAID THIS DECISION WAS PART AND PARCEL OF AN INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WOULD RESETTLE ALL VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

"THIS WAS ALL VERY LAUDABLE UNTIL THE RESETTLEMENT PART OF

THIS INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT BROKE DOWN," HE SAID.

HOWEVER, HONG KONG HAD DONE ITS BEST IN THE MATTER ΤΟ TRY то COPE WITH THE VIETNAMESE INFLUX, INCLUDING BEARING ALMOST THE WHOLE FINANCIAL BURDEN, HE SAID.

NOTING THAT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAD CLAIMED THAT IT WAS HELPLESS IN ATTEMPTING TO STOP ITS PEOPLE FROM LEAVING, MR ARCULLI SAID THAT EVEN IF THERE WAS A SHRED OF TRUTH TO THIS, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO EXPLANATION WHATSOEVER AS TO WHY THEY WERE NOT PREPARED TO TAKE BACK THOSE THAT WERE NOT REFUGEES.

TURNING TO BRITAIN, HE SAID THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT MUST BE GIVEN A CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL MESSAGE THAT HONG KONG WAS ENTITLED ΤΟ EXPECT AND INDEED DEMAND THAT IT FULFIL ITS OBLIGATION.

/IT SHOULD

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