XN000022-1991-12-03 — Page 8

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1991

GOVT RESPONSE TO ASIA WATCH REPORT

THE FOLLOWING

STATEMENT IS ISSUED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY

THE

REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR, MR CLINTON LEEKS, IN RESPONSE ΤΟ A REPORT

RELEASED BY THE ASIA WATCH ON THE TREATMENT OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS:

"THE ASIA WATCH REPORT RECOGNISES THAT THE COST TO HONG KONG OF THE BURDEN WE HAVE CARRIED FOR OVER 16 YEARS IS HIGH (OVER US$100 MILLION A YEAR). IT RECOGNISES ALSO THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPEN AND POSITIVE IN RESPONSE TO ASIA WATCH'S OWN REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ACCESS TO THE CAMPS. BOTH ARE TRUE.

AND

"HOWEVER, THE ASIA WATCH REPORT ALSO CRITICISES HONG KONG'S POLICY OF DETENTION AND SCREENING, WITHOUT RECOMMENDING ANY ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED FOR 16 YEARS AND WHICH HAS BEEN COMPOUNDED BY OVER 20,000 NEW ARRIVALS THIS YEAR.

"IN RECOMMENDING THAT THE POLICY OF DETENTION TO CEASE, ASIA WATCH FAILS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY, MANY OF WHOM REGARD OUR POLICY OF ASYLUM FOR VIETNAMESE AS INCONSISTENT WITH OUR POLICY OF RETURNING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CHINA. THEY SEE A DOUBLE STANDARD IN FAVOUR OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS.

"IN CALLING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SCREENING, ASIA WATCH FAILS TO TAKE ANY ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PROCESS WHICH DURING THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF OPERATION WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE AS THOROUGH AS WE CAN.

"WE, AND UNHCR, BELIEVE THAT OUR SCREENING PROCESS COMPARES WELL WITH THOSE OF MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD.

"IN CALLING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO CONDITIONS IN THE EXISTING CAMPS, ASIA WATCH FAILS TO TAKE ANY ACCOUNT OF THE LIMITS IN POLITICAL AND RESOURCE TERMS TO WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR PEOPLE WHOSE FUTURE LIES IN VIETNAM BUT WHO REFUSE TO GO HOME.

"ASIA WATCH CALLS FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION TO BE GIVEN 'A CHANCE TO REDUCE THE POPULATION OF DETENTION CENTRES'. IT IGNORES THE FACT THAT DURING THE SCHEME'S THREE YEARS' OPERATION IN HONG KONG IT

PERIOD WE HAS RETURNED SOME 13,000 PEOPLE, WHILE OVER THE SAME

HAVE HAD OVER 60,000 NEW ARRIVALS AND 6,000 BIRTHS IN THE CAMPS HERE. TO ALLOW THIS SITUATION TO CONTINUE WOULD BE TO INVITE CONDITIONS IN THE CAMPS TO DETERIORATE RATHER THAN IMPROVE.

"IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT, AS THE UNHCR- AND BACKED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION ENVISAGES, A VOLUNTARY SCHEME AN

SCHEME ORDERLY

TO RETURN THOSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

DO WHO

NOT VOLUNTEER ARE COMPLEMENTARY, AND INDEED MUTUALLY REINFORCE BACH OTHER.

"ASIA WATCH MAKES SEVERAL CLAIMS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AND TREATMENT THAT AWAIT RETURNEES. THE FACT IS THAT 13,000 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY RETURNED HOME FROM HONG KONG. THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF CONSIDERABLE PRESS INTEREST AND CLOSE

BY MONITORING INDEPENDENT AGENCIES. THERE HAS BEEN NOT A SINGLE SUBSTANTIATED OF PERSECUTION OF ANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE RETURNED.

CASE

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