Mr Qu
026
Mr Mehave/
REPLY BY THE HONOURABLE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER,
KBE JP, TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN OBE JP
861
AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING ON 23 MAY 1979 HKK243/1
Sir,
RECEIVED IN REGISEN NO. 51
- 4 JUN
DESK OFFICEN INDEX
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76-6
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The solution to the refugee problem lies--
ultimately with the Vietnamese Government to control
the flow of people who wish to leave its country.
2.
Representations have been made to the Vietnamese
Government by Her Majesty's Government on our behalf
regarding the trafficking in refugees and to stress
the need to collaborate fully with the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees to achieve an orderly
· outflow of people. Recently at a meeting in Jakarta,
the Vietnamese delegate said such a scheme is being
worked out. It remains to be seen whether it will
be introduced and, if so, whether it will be
effective.
3.
Meanwhile, we remain alert and vigilant and
explore every means of restricting the flow of
refugees to Hong Kong. We have devised a system
aimed at identifying and locating suspect vessels
which may be about to engage in this trade.
This system is helped by assistance from British
diplomatic posts in the region and Her Majesty's
Government. As a result we have been able to take
pre-emptive action against some such ships. We also
carry out sea and air reconnaissance using Royal
Navy ships and both Royal Air Force and RHKAAF aircraft.
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