TNAG-1540-FCO40-2104-Further-resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-i-1986 — Page 12

KCLI 24:3/11

REGISTRY

1 3 DEC 1986

rt :!

Extract:

heglo speech: подро

Speech: Secretary

for Security

00.1126

73

-6-

A

comprehensive staff training programme. This possibility

has in fact been under consideration for more than five

years. The main difficulty is to find a suitable site.

The latest position is that we are considering the

possibility of developing the Erskine Camp in Saikung

into a residential training school. We shall know in the

latter part of 1987 whether we can proceed with an

Immigration Training school there. Meanwhile we shall

continue to press for these much needed training facilities.

ur

INDI..

Vietnamese Refugees

11.

I would now like to turn to the problem of

Vietnamese refugees which was raised by my honourable

colleagues, Mr. Peter C. Wong, Dr. Ho Kam-fai, Mr. Jackie Chan

and Mrs. Rita Fan.

12.

I am most grateful for the continuing interest

shown by Members of this Council in helping to find solutions

to the intractable problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong

Kong. I can assure Honourable Members that the Administration

is equally concerned about this issue and its effect on Hong

Kong.

We are well aware of the contradiction between our

policy on vietnamese refugees and our very necessary policy

Igiven our acute population pressures) towards illegal

immigrants from China. But, as Mr. Wong pointed out, the

principles that govern our society are humanitarian, and until

such times as we can be satisfied about the treatment of any

who are sent back to Vietnam, we must continue to grant them

asylum here.

13.

But while we as a place of first asylum in

accordance with the international convention continue to

/accept