XN000022-1991-07-29 — Page 7

MONDAY, JULY 29, 1991

6

STATEMENT ON VM'S FIRST ASYLUM POLICY

IN RESPONSE TO PRESS REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL ABANDON THE POLICY OF FIRST ASYLUM FOR VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR, MR CLINTON LEEKS, ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY (MONDAY):

"WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION (CPA) REMAINS THE BEST MEANS OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

STEERING

"BUT WE HAVE ALSO MADE CLEAR, INCLUDING AT THE FOURTH COMMITTEE MEETING IN GENEVA ON APRIL 30 AND MAY 1, THAT HONG KONG CANNOT CONTINUE TO BEAR THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE CPA ALONE.

"THE CPA IS UNDER-FUNDED INTERNATIONALLY. ALMOST ALL ARRIVALS ARE NOW COMING TO HONG KONG, AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAVE FAILED TO FIND A DURABLE MEANS OF RETURNING NON-REFUGEES TO VIETNAM.

"IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, OUR CAMPS ARE NOW SERIOUSLY OVERCROWDED AND THIS SITUATION IS LIKELY TO GET WORSE.

"IF IT DOES, WE WILL REACH A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN NO LONGER MAINTAIN THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST ASYLUM UNDER THE CPA.

"HENCE IT IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO HAVE AN EARLY PROGRESS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT IN VIETNAM OF INTERNATIONALLY MANAGED CENTRES IN ORDER TO RELIEVE PART OF THE BURDEN ON HONG KONG AND TO ACHIEVE A REAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AS A WHOLE."

11

APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADVISER

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (MONDAY) ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONSULTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADVISER.

HE IS MR JOHN ELLIOTT, WHO IS RESIGNING FROM THE FINANCIAL

TIMES AT THE END OF HIS CURRENT POSTING IN HONG KONG.

OFFICE

MR ELLIOTT, AGED 51, WILL WORK IN THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S AND WILL ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON BROAD STRATEGIES AIMED AT PROMOTING HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CENTRE.

17