en I announced that new policy, effective from 16 June this
year, I made it crystal clear that I was determined to maintain the
same humane approach which lay behind our earlier efforts to
resettle those who had left Vietnam.
Every genuine refugee, however many there were, who arrived
in Hong Kong, would retain the unconditional right to stay safely in Hong Kong awaiting resettlement.
-
And we were acutely conscious of the need, not only to be
scupulously fair but to be seen to be scrupulously fair. That is
why we decided to use the criteria established by the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees to determine who were genuine
refugees and who were not. What is more we asked the United Nations
to monitor the procedures which we set up.
- We wanted to satisfy the standards of a body which enjoys the
respect and admiration of the civilised world.
- This was doubly important, because, however you look at it, all
boat people from Vietnam arriving in Hong Kong who are not genuine refugees are illegal immigrants.
They would be, anywhere else in the world, whichever country they
had come from, and whichever country they had arrived in.
These may be harsh words. But they are not an invention of the
British Government. They reflect the practice of all governments
throughout the world.
And, for that reason, there was only one option we could follow.
Those arriving in Hong Kong after 16 June and who had no legal right
to stay had to return to Vietnam.
- This was not an easy decision to take. But I am convinced it was the right one. And there has never been any question of our washing our hands of those who could not stay in Hong Kong.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.