TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 53

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Mr beekey

Mr Ehrman

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Mr Galsworthy

Thank you.

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES : LEGCO ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, 15 MAY 1985

1.

Draft texts of the speech made by LEGCO Members are attached.

The debate was moved by Dr Ho Kam-Fai, but all six Unofficials who spoke covered the same basic themes. These were:

(i)

Closed camps are necessary, and should not be abolished.

(ii) Conditions in closed camps. are better than those in squatter

and temporary housing areas of Hong Kong.

(iii) The international community should help Hong Kong, rather than

sit back and criticise it.

(iv)

(v)

Britain is responsible for Hong Kong, and should take the lead by accepting more refugees from Hong Kong.

Britain should work to persuade other countries to take more.

(vi) Hong Kong has already done more

th an

its share of assisting Vietnam refugees and should not be expected to accept any more for resettlement.

(vii)

2.

The Vietnamese Government should be urged to curb the outflow of refugees, and accept repatriation of those willing to return. (Henrietta Ip only). Involuntary repatriation was not raised (but the treatment accorded Vietnamese was contrasted with that given to "illegal immigrants from the North (Mrs Selina Chow)).

Mr Jeaffres on, replying for the Administration, reiterated the Government's view that it could continue to provide first asylum only "for as long as the international presumption is that they are refugees and resettlement countries are prepared to take them".

17 May 1985

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Olivia Walker

Hong Kong Department 233 3988

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20 MAY 1985

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