TNAG-1426-FCO40-1909-Vietnamese-refugees-in-Hong-Kong-general-1985 — Page 93

VB1AIK

MR RAISON'S INTERVIEW WITH 'REFUGEES' MAGAZINE: 27 JUNE 1985

LINE TO TAKE

What is the British Government's policy on the question of refugees

in Hong Kong?

General

·

as

in

1. As Richard Luce, Minister of State FOO, said when giving oral

evidence to the Sub-Committee on Race Relations (SCORRI) on 4

February, and as he repeated during the two recent Adjournment Debates on Indo-Chinese refugees in the House of Commons (14 and 24

May) neither the British nor the Hong Kong Government regard it

satisfactory ог desirable that refugees should have to rema in

camp s It is not. Our objective must be to find durable solutions

for all the refugees as soon as possible. To this end we maintain

regular dialogue with UNHOR and other resettlement countries.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong Government make every effort to ensure that

the refugees basic needs are met while they remain in camps: they

are provided with shelter, food, medical treatment, clothing,

education, welfare and training facilities. Would like to stress that Hong Kong has given temporary asylum to over 100,000 Vietnamese refugees since 1975. It has turned none away. Admirable record for

such a small, overcrowded territory.

Scorri Report

2. We are considering the report very carefully, and will respond

to Parliament as soon as possible. It would not be appropriate for

me to comment on the recommendations in detail in advance of this.

Resettlement UK's record

3.

-

UK has accepted s ome

19,000 Vietnamese for resettlement,

including 12,000 from Hong Kong. We have a continuing international

commitment to accept family

family reunion and ship rescue cases. Hong Kong itself has absorbed 14,500 displaced Indo-Chinese. We are of

course considering urgently SCORRI's recommendation that the UK

should accept

accept more refugees from Hong Kong, and Our decision will

form part of our general response to Parliament on the report.