XN000022-1991-06-14 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1991

GOVERNMENT REFUTES REFUGEE CONCERN REPORT

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PUBLISHED

IN RESPONSE TO THE PAPER "DEFENCELESS IN DETENTION" BY REFUGEE CONCERN HONG KONG, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY} REJECTED CRITICISMS LEVELLED AGAINST THE POLICY ON VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS MAKING ENORMOUS EFFORTS TO ATTEMPT ΤΟ MAINTAIN FIRST ASYLUM IN THE FACE OF GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE INTERNATIONAL FAILURE TO FIND A PROPER SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE NUMBERS NOW ARRIVING FROM VIETNAM, AT SEVERAL HUNDREDS DAY, ARE PUTTING OUR ABILITY TO COPE UNDER MAJOR PRACTICAL POLITICAL PRESSURES, HE NOTED,

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REPORT BY REFUGER .CONCERN SHOWED LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT OVER 16 YEARS TO MAINTAIN THE KEY PRINCIPLE OF FIRST ASYLUM.

"THE REPORT COMPARES US UNFAVOURABLY WITH OTHER PLACES IN THE REGION, SOME OF WHICH DESPITE THEIR FAR GREATER LAND RESOURCES HAVE TURNED BOATS AWAY.

"IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE FACING A FLOOD OF ARRIVALS CAUSED BY NO ACT OF HONG KONG'S AND WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ARE FAILING TO PREVENT BY ADEQUATE MEASURES TO RESOLVE

THE

PROBLEM.

"THE REPORT DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY ALMOST ALL THOSE DEPARTING FROM VIETNAM NOW COME HERE, DESPITE REFUGEE CONCERN'S HONG KONG'S TREATMENT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS.

CRITICISMS

OF

DO

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REPORT PROPOSED MEASURES THAT WOULD NOTHING TO HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM HERE AND INDERD MIGHT WELL MAKE IT WORSE.

"THE REPORT SHOWS NO REAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE BACKGROUND AGAINST WHICH WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN A HUMANITARIAN POLICY HERE, HE SAID.

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WOMEN

***THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT REGRETS THAT OVER 17,000 MEN, AND CHILDREN REMAIN IN DETENTION IN HONG KONG AS SCREENED QUT NON- REFUGEES.

"THE REAL INHUMANITY LIES IN THE FALSE HOPES THEY THERE IS SOME FUTURE FOR THEM OTHER THAN IN THEIR OWN

THAT VIETNAM.

ARR GIVEN

HOMBS

IN

"YET UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION THEY HAVE ONLY ONE OPTION - TO GO BACK TO VIETNAM. THEY CAN DO SO UNDER THE UNHOR REPATRIATION SCHEME, THUS ENDING THEIR DETENTION, ANY TIME THEY WISH.

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"IN THE MEANTIME THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, WITH THE HELP OF THE UNHCR AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO CARE FOR THEM AND THOSE 36,000 WHO HAVE COME HERE MORE RECENTLY AND HAVE YET TO BE SCREENED," THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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