TNAG-1787-FCO40-2547-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1988 — Page 157

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PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE,

IN HONG KONG ON TUESDAY, 31 MAY 1988

I have been particularly struck, although not surprised, by the

strong feelings aroused by the arrival of the Vietnamese boat people

and the problems which they cause. I pay tribute to the generous and humanitarian response of the Hong Kong Government and people to their plight.

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

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

plainly that the automatic resettlement of all those leaving

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

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

people to the mercy of the sea.

Other

The fact is that the vast bulk of boat people now arriving cannot be

described as "political refugees" as defined by the UNHCR.

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 them back, but that must be the long-term solution. Britain

will continue to work for that.

So the options are limited. There is no magic formula and hard

decisions will have to be taken. 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 cannot go on offering itself to an

endless stream of people as a transit point to a future that does

not and cannot exist.

Of course, the whole position in South-East Asia would be immensely

improved if Vietnam quit Cambodia. The Soviet invasion of

Afghanistan and its support for the Vietnamese occupation of

MR3ABT