TNAG-1749-FCO40-2468-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 101

1998-05-71

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FOREIGN BBC

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HONG KONG PRESS COEFRRBICH 31 MAY 1988

FOREIGN BECRETARY (CONTD):

As I said yesterday, the burden on Hong Kong is becoming

Things cannot go on as they are. I have to say

intolerable.

plainly that the automatic resettlement of all those leaving

Vietnam, for whatever reason, is not a practical proposition, nor, 1

believe, would a civilised community like Hong Kong wish to leave

people to the maroy of the sea.

The fact is that the vast bulk of boat people now arriving

cannot be described as "political refugees" as defined by the UNHCR.

Other countries cannot be expected to carry the burden of Vietnam's

abysmal economic mismanagement, least of all a small and overcrowded

territory like Hong Kong. It must be right in principle for these

people, who are Vietnamese, to find their future in Vietnam.

Unfortunately, despite international pressure, Vietnam refuses to

have then back, but that must be the long-term solution.

will continue to work for that.

So the options are limited.

hard decisions will have to be taken.

Britain

There is no magio formula and

I have had extensive

discussions here on the way ahead and I will take an early

opportunity to report to the British Government.

All I can say at

this stage is that I fully accept that Hong Kong oannot go on

offering itself to an endless stream of people as a transit point to

a future that does not and cannot exist.