129.
(0) Vietnamese Rofuscon
I turn now to
the persistent problem of Vietnamese refugees. Unhappily in. the last year the pendulum has swung against us. Resettlement places are dwindling and Hong Kong is getting a reduced shape of then. At the same time wo have bean zbceiving a greater proportion of the arrivals in the region. Ab a result we find ourselves with 3,000 more refugees than six
months ago.
Hong Kong can be proud of its record in providing
first asylum for refugees. But we cannot absorb more and more people without detriment to the welfare of our own citizeno. for thip reason we decided in July that in future all refugcoc
should be held in closed camps. Our intention is to dator those Vietnamese who persist in seeking illegal entry to Hong
Kong. Meanwhile,
remain grateful for the continued
assistance of UNHCR.
we
130.
(E) Correctional Services
a
in
The difficult task of managing these
these new camps in
firm and yet humane way has fallen to the Correctional Services Department. I should like to pay tribute to the manner
which they have responded to this new demand particularly at a
time when the general population in Our correctional institutions has increased by 80 to 7,500. Theire ig an gosential and demanding job which they carry out with loyalty and efficiency.
131.
effective
(g) Fire Services
Nor
should I omit reforenco to the determined,
and courageous performance of the Fire Services. They discharge their daunting responsibility in an exemplary way. Together with the Police and the Auxiliary Services, they "performed magnificently in the very heavy rainstorms of May and
August.
40
/(h) ICAC
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.