refugees, you said I think that you anticipate seeing a substantial reduction in the camp population in Hong Kong.
The number that Britain is going to take will only just about
cover the natural growth in the camp population. How substantial do you expect this reduction to be?
MR RENTON:
We
Well, I think that as I was asked that question after visiting Bowring camp two days ago, that it really would not be appropriate to put a specific figure on it at the moment. As I said on that occasion, on the basis of our lead in taking 500 further resettlement cases ourselves, we are in very close discussion with a number of governments at the moment. are being closely supported in this by the Hong Kong Government themselves. We have received very favourable indications, I am glad to say, from Australia that they are prepared to take a substantial increase in their numbers, and favourable indications from a number of other countries as well, and including Scandinavia. But it would be wrong for me at this stage to put a figure on it until I am absolutely certain what can be achieved, but our estimate at the moment is that the figure it will be quite a substantial
reduction in the total here.
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QUESTION (by Jin Biddulph):
Maybe a couple of thousands?
No.
You can't lead me on to give
MR RENTON:
you specifics!
regarding
QUESTION: Harvey Stockwin, Times of Indiat Mr Minister, the British White Paper on the Order in Council
the BN (0) question, makes great play with the fact that Britain is honouring its pledge to reduce statelessness. Now in one vital aspect I would put it to you that in fact the British government is increasing statelessness. This is because of the anomalous position of the minorities in Hong Kong, the Indians, Pakistanis, Portuguese, and others, the non-ethnic Chinese, who will on the one hand not come within the purview of
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