XN000022-1989-06-14 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1989

COLOSSAL PROBLEM MADE CLEAR TO WORLD COMMUNITY: GOVERNOR

HONG KONG HAS BROUGHT HOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE EXISTENCE OF A COLOSSAL PROBLEM FACING IT DURING THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES IN GENEVA, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID TODAY.

"UP ΤΟ NOW, WHETHER DELIBERATELY OR ACCIDENTALLY, THE

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS IGNORED THE CRISIS.

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"THAT IS NO LONGER TRUE, HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE END OF THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE.

HE SAID THE CONFERENCE HAD ACHIEVED A GREAT DEAL OF IMPROVEMENT ON THE QUESTION OF RESETTLEMENT OF GENUINE REFUGEES.

"THE CONFERENCE HAS HAD OFFERED TO IT A REGIONAL PROCESSING CENTRE IN THE PHILIPPINES, A VERY GENEROUS OFFER BY THE PHILIPPINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER.

"THAT IS SOMETHING WE DID NOT KNOW WAS GOING ΤΟ COME OUT OF THE CONFERENCE. IT IS CERTAINLY A PLUS.

"AND FINALLY WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING ACROSS VERY CLEARLY INDEED THAT YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE HUGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REFUGEES.

"THERE IS A GREAT DESIRE IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO CLOSE ITS EYES TO THAT FART OF THE PROBLEM, AND I THINK WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S EYES CANNOT BE CLOSED TO IT, THAT SOLUTIONS MUST BE FOUND TO THAT.

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"WE HAVEN'T GOT ON THE TABLE THE PRECISE SOLUTION TO IT, BUT HOPE THAT OVER THE MONTHS TO COME WE WILL WORK TOWARDS DEALING WITH THAT VERY KEY PART OF THE PROBLEM, HE SAID.

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COMMENTING ON THE CLOSING STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE, THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE PRESIDENT DID POINT TO THE URGENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO WERE REFUGEES MUST GO BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND.

SAID.

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"THOSE WERE VERY IMPORTANT STATEMENTS THAT HE HAS MADE," HE

SIR DAVID SAID THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE ALSO GAVE CERTAIN TASKS TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE.

"I WOULD HOPE THAT AMONG THE ONES THAT THEY GIVE PRIORITY TO BE THE QUESTION OF A REGIONAL PROCESSING CENTRE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

WOULD

"THAT IS A CONCRETE PROPOSAL WHICH NOW NEEDS SPECIFIC ACTION AND THEY CAN GET ON WITH IT.'

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