MARK O. HATFIELD
OREGON
United States Senate
WASHINGTON, DC
June 1, 1989
HW?16.
LX. CC: PS/BUS 1516.
Mr. Ralph
2. Mr. Ricketts -Grament for a dreift for HmA.
H. Woodruff to 716.
His Excellency Sir Anthony Acland
Ambassador to the United States
Embassy of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
3100 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Dear Mr.
Ambassador:
I am writing to express my profound concern for the 400 Vietnamese refugees recently sent to the desolate island of Tai A Chau by the Hong Kong government. This action is only the latest in a series of increasingly inhumane measures taken by the Hong Kong government to deal with Vietnamese refugee boat flows.
Tai A Chau not only lacks running water, toilets, and electricity, but also has no shelters. Furthermore, officials in Hong Kong have stated that only water and dry rations will be provided. This island, apparently, will now be used to house all new refugee arrivals.
This action, like the "screening" policy adopted last year in Hong Kong, clearly is designed to deter future refugee boat flows. I understand the frustration with what seems to be an endless flow of refugees from Vietnam, but humane treatment of all refugees should be the paramount concern.
I urge you and your government to make every effort to reverse the Hong Kong government's new policy and to support a more humane treatment of all of the refugees in Hong Kong.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Mark O.
Hatfield
United States Senate
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