TNAG-1418-FCO40-1901-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 131

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PRESS RELEASE:

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) WELCOMED THE REPORT FROM THE BRITISH

HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE'S SUB-COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND

IMMIGRATION (SCORRIE).

A SPOKESMAN SAID:

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE REPORT AS AN INDICATION

OF HMG'S CONTINUED INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S REFUGEE PROBLEM.

WE SHALL STUDY THE REPORT CAREFULLY, CONSIDER ITS RECOMMENDATIONS

WHICH DEAL WITH HONG KONG AND PRESENT OUR VIEWS TO HMG.

''THE COMMITT HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO PARLIAMENT AND HMG WILL

RESPOND IN DUE COURSE BY MAKING A STATEMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS

TO PARLIAMENT.''

IF PRESSED:

''NEITHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT NOR HMG WISH VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

TO REMAIN IN OPEN OR CLOSED CENTRES IN HONG KONG.

''OUR WISH IS TO FIND A DURABLE SOLUTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.!!

LINE TO TAKE:

(1) WE WELCOME THE REPORT AS AN INDICATION OF HMG'S CONTINUED

INTEREST IN HONG KONG'S REFUGEE PROBLEM:

(2) WE SHALL STUDY THE REPORT CAREFULLY, CONSIDER ITS RECOMMEND-

ATIONS WHICH DEAL WITH HONG KONG AND PRESENT OUR VIEWS TO HMG:

(3) THE COMMITTEE HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO PARLIAMENT AND HMG

WILL RESPOND, IN DUE COURSE, BY MAKING A STATEMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARLIAMENT.

DEFENSIVELY

(4) NEITHER THE HONG KONT GOVERNMENT NOR HMG WISH VIETNAMESE

REFUGEES TO REMAIN IN OPEN OR CLOSED CENTRES IN HONG KONG

AND OUR WISH IS TO FIND A DURABLE SOLUTION AS QUICKLY AS

POSSIBLE.

(5) WE DO NOT INTEND TO MAKE ANY CHANGES IN OUR POLICY UNTIL WE

HAVE DISCUSSED THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WITH HMG AND IT

HAS, THEN, RESPONDED TO PARLIAMENT SETTING OUT ITS POSITION.

(6) HONG KONG CANNOT LIBERALISE ITS REFUGEE POLICY (ABOLISH CLOSED

CENTRES OR ABSORB MORE) UNLESS:

(A) THE MIGRATION FROM VIETNAM TO HONG KONG IS STOPPED: OR

(B) RESETTLEMENT IS INCREASED.

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