TNAG-1425-FCO40-1908-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 83

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DIANA LIN;

You say that the only way is to

resettle them, which means that they won't be integrated into

Hong Kong society?

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MR. HARTLING;

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well, if they can be integrated in

Hong Kong and the refugees would like that and Hong Kong will allow them, no problem with me, I think that would be excellent,

But as I understand it, that is not possible. The Hong Kong authorities are not prepared to say that, they have other problems and I cannot blame them, they have taken some of them. They cannot go back, I have personally discussed that with the Vietnamese authorities and they are not prepared to take people

back, not more than case by case. I don't think wither there will be voluntary. repatriati and that's what we are talking about, People would like to go back as the situation is now, so their only way out is to find another country to live in and

all that is what they wish.

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CLAUDIA MO, AFP:

Sir, yesterday you called on Britain

in particular to accept more refugees from Hong Kong but is it fair for you to single out Britain, when the whole question of refugees seems to be an international responsibility?

MR. HARTLING:

If you got the impression yesterday

that I singled out Britain I would like to redress that and say that is wrong; I would like to urge all countries fixat of

all the big immigration countries or resettlement countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and some other countries. What I said yesterday is that I think it would be helpful if Great Britain would take an initiative, because I think an initiative might inspire, could I say the 'bia immigration

countries' to do more.

I do not expect

United Kingdom to take all people out of Hong Kong certainly they could but I don't expect them to do so, but I would like them to take an initiative and that is perhaps one of the way out. It was not my idea, it came from the report from the Parliamentarian