TNAG-1798-FCO40-2558-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-repatriation--including-Opera-1988 — Page 4

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VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG: ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, THURSDAY

22 DECEMBER 1988

A. Introduction

WINDING-UP SPEECH BY MR EGGAR

It is almost exactly a year ago to the day that this House

considered the problem of the Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong in an adjournment debate. Today's debate provides a further timely opportunity for the House to review the important developments that

have taken place in the past twelve months. I am most grateful to

my Hon. Friend the member for Beckenham, for his initiative in

calling for this adjournment debate today.

one.

The problem of Vietnamese boat people is a complex and difficult

It is an issue which is of the greatest concern to the

Government. We attach a very high priority indeed to achieving a comprehensive and durable solution to the problem.

Friend,

I have listened with interest to the views of my Hon.

the Member for Beckenham, and to those of others who have

participate in this short debate. I have noted carefully the

concerns that have been expressed. Let me reassure the House that

these are concerns which the Government fully shares. Our approach to to this tragic problem has been, and wil continue to be, a humane jand civilised one.

B.

Nature of the problem

It may be helpful if I summarise very briefly the developments of the past twelve months and the steps which we and the Hong Kong

authorities have taken to deal with them.

As the House will be aware, there has been a sharp and dramatic

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