TNAG-1789-FCO40-2549-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1989 — Page 130

I

2

The

on

frustration felt by the Hong Kong community this problem was voiced by a large number of my colleagues in a debate last week. They urged HMG to:

(a)

reaffirm its commitment resolve the problem by increasing its

to

intake

help Hong Kong substantially

of Vietnamese

refugees from Hong Kong;

(b)

persuade

other

resettlement

follow

lead UK'S refugees; and

and to

countries

accept

to

more

(c)

continue

negotiations with

the

Vietnamese

Government

with

а

have

Kong

16 June 1988 refugees.

and

view to making

arrangements to repatriate boat people who

In a recent

a

arrived

in Hong

since who do not qualify as

recent radio interview, the Minister of State for Home Affairs gave as reason for the low resettlement places for Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong the fact that the UK were taking 30 per month from Vietnam under the Orderly Departure

that are bewildered Programme. priority should be given to a country for which the U.K. has no constitutional responsibility at the expense of a territory for which it has.

The

people

of

Hong

Kong

At

a

that UK's there time when

is growing concern

we look to HMG is diminishing, interest in Hong Kong

solve us to demonstrate its responsibility by helping long-standing problem.

to this

Yours sincerely,

ليه

Lydia DUNN

On behalf of all the Members of Executive &

Legislative Councils