TNAG-0889-FCO40-1099-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 87

Supplementary To Leg. Co. Question Nos. & and 9

of 6th June, 1979

Mr Cheong-Leen :

Sir, in view of the recent announcement by the Vietnamese Government of

a more orderly exit of refugees from Vietnam to other countries, will

representations be made through proper channels for new arrivals to

Hong Kong to be returned to and accepted by the Vietnames Government.

Secretary for Security

Vietnamese

Sir, representations have already been made by HMC urging the

Government to ensure that the refugee exodus is controlled. Until there

is evidence that Vietnam has ceased to persecute large numbers of its citizens

we do not expect that many refugees who have already left will be willing

to return nor; if they were, that the Vietnamese Government would accept

them back,

hr, Hong Lạm

Sir, as most of the people in Hong Kong are very concerned about the large

influx of Vietnamese refugees into Hong Kong cen Government take tougher

Measures?

Secretary for Security

Sir, as I have explained, tougher measures are not easily devised

for small boat people. In the ultimate this means really towing or

committing men, women and children to their death. To argue that this

was what public opinion would like would not salve my conscience in this these

circumstances

KLKEEN and I do not really think that it is in the ultimate what

Hong Kong really wants.