TNAG-1894-FCO40-2688-Visit-by-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 43

DRAFT.

TNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE: STATEMENT AT HEI LING CHAU

My visit today has left me with two strong impressions:

First, how well the Hong Kong authorities are coping with this

enormous problem. I want to pay a warm tribute to all those

involved, particularly the police [and possible others].

Second, that it is tragic that so many people, and young people at

that, keep coming here with little or no prospect of resettlement

elsewhere. For them to spend years in camps is intolerable for you

and inhumane for them. And it must stop.

We are

There is no doubt that the future for the Boat People lies back in

Vietnam. They must be allowed to return in safety and dignity. We are pursuing this urgently with the Vietnamese Government.

also continuing our discussions with the other resettlement

countries: international support is essential if we are to get a

lasting solution to a problem that has become such a burden to Hong

Kong.