XN000022-1989-11-29 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1989

SUCH EMOTION WAS FUELLED AND USED BY LOBBYING GROUPS TO ACHIEVE THEIR OWN AIMS. EVEN IN HONG KONG, A SPECTRUM OF VIEWS COULD BE FOUND ON THIS ISSUE, AND THE TWO EXTREME ENDS OF THAT SPECTRUM COULD DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY IF NOT HANDLED CAREFULLY, SHE SAID.

SHE ADDED THAT SHORT OF ABOLISHING THE FIRST ASYLUM POLICY, THE ONLY REALISTIC OPTION AVAILABLE TO HONG KONG AT PRESENT WAS TO REPATRIATE ALL NON-REFUGEES, VOLUNTARILY OR INVOLUNTARILY.

SHE SAID SHE WAS PLEASED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS NOW ACTIVELY PURSUING ARRANGEMENTS FOR INVOLUNTARY RETURN WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT.

MANDATORY REPATRIATION WAS A MUST, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED EARLIER IF THE MESSAGE WAS TO REACH HOME IN VIETNAM BEFORE THE NEXT SAILING SEASON, SHE ADDED.

SHE SAID ANYONE GIVING FALSE HOPE TO THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WAS DOING THEM A GRAVE DISSERVICE. ANYONE PERSUADING THEM TO TAKE DRASTIC ACTION. SUCH AS CAUSING DISTURBANCE IN THE CENTRES, WAS MAKING LIFE EVEN MORE MISERABLE FOR THEM.

"NO ONE WHO REALLY CARES FOR THESE POOR BOAT PEOPLE SHOULD ATTEMPT TO TURN THEM INTO MARTYRS WHEN THEIR FATE HAD ALREADY BEEN SIGNED AND SEALED IN JUNE BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE, IN GENEVA," SHE SAID.

MRS FAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MANDATORY REPATRIATION FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WAS AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICE.

"THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING MORE THAN SOME GOVERNMENTS IN THE WORLD BY MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO ASSURE THE SAFE RETURN OF THESE VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BY EXTRACTING ASSURANCES FROM THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT NOT TO TREAT THE RETURNEES 1NHUMANELY. SHE SAID.

TI

CALL FOR VIETNAMESE II HOLDING CENTRE IN SE ASIA

TO

CENTRE A HOLDING

SHOULD BE SET UP IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

TO THE ACCOMMODATE ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM VIETNAM AS A SOLUTION

HON MARTIN LEE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM, THE

SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ON

VIETNAMESE BOAT

PHILIPPINES

SPEAKING AGAINST THE MOTION IN THE DEBATE PEOPLE, MR LEE PROPOSED THAT A BIG ISLAND BE FOUND IN THE OR THAILAND, OR ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION, FOR SUCH A PURPOSE.

/MONEY FOR