STATEMENT ON VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG
With permission, Mr Speaker, I should like to make a
statement about the recent sharp increase in the rate of
arrivals in Hong Kong of boat people from Vietnam, which
has been a matter of very great concern to the British and
Hong Kong Governments. The number of Vietnamese boat people
in camps in Hong Kong now stands at over 16,000, the highest
level since 1980 and double the number last year. The flow
of arrivals shows no sign of abating.
The Hong Kong Government have acted with commendable
efficiency to establish emergency facilities to accommodate
the recent influx. But their resources are stretched to
the limit. I visited these facilities at the end of last
month. I came to the conclusion that the burden was becoming
intolerable and that things could not go on as they were.
The overwhelming majority of the new arrivals are
ethnic Vietnamese. Most come from North Vietnam and have
no family links outside Vietnam. They cannot be described as political refugees as defined by UNHCR. Their prospects for resettlement in the West are virtually non-existent.
It was clear to me that Hong Kong could no longer offer itself to this stream of people as a transit point to a
future that does not and cannot exist.
will be
In view of the rapidly deteriorating situation Her Majesty's Government have been considering urgently
with the Hong Kong Government what should be done. The
Hong Kong Government announced earlier today, with the
endorsement of Her Majesty's Government, that with effect
from 16 June a new policy will be introduced. From then
on, the great majority of boat people arriving in Hong Kong
accomvendte will be detained as illegal immigrants, pending their in Itory Kong to annit resettlement, All amães
eventual return to Vietnam.
Only those few who can show
tht they are genuine refugees will be treated as such and
will be screened on the basis of UNHCR criteria, according
to procedures which UNHCR will be able to monitor.
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