TNAG-2053-FCO40-2926-Hong-Kong-parliamentary-matters-1990 — Page 151

My Lords, the debaca Chis

alternoon has

other immediate concerns of Hong Kong

territory of Vietnamese boat people.

-

One of

the heavy burden on the

Here again, the Government has

not flinched from the need to take difficult decisions.

In December we authorised the Hong Kong Government to proceed with This was the mandatory repatriation of 51 Vietnamese boat people.

But the plain fact is that Hong

not something which we relished. Kong cannot be expected to cope indefinitely with an endless stream of migrants from Vietnam, most of whom have no prospect of ever finding a new home. It is therefore imperative that we find effective ways of ending this futile exodus.

At the meeting of the International Steering Committee, which is being held in Geneva today, We are seeking greater understanding from the international community of the problems facing Hong Kong. Our goal is to persuade the international community to accept the need for effective measures to prevent a further flood of arrivals this year and to empty the camps in Hong Kong as quickly as possible.

We also hope that UNHCR will agree to monitor the

conditions of all those returned to Vietnam.

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Noble Lord, Lord Ennals and My Rt Hon Friend Mr Raison for the dete nation and dedication they showed in undertaking their arduous mission to Vietnam and for their thorough and comprehensive report. I am pleased to say that their Report has been placed in the Library of the House. We are naturally glad that the Noble Lord, Lord Ennals and My Rt Hon Friend Mr Raison were able to confirm that there is no evidence that returnees have been

It is also clear from ill-treated since their return to Vietnam. their Report that the message has not yet got across in Vietnam that no country is willing to take these boat people who are found not to be genuine refugees. In this regard, we welcome the Report's recommendation for a campaign of education.

We shall be studying

this and other recommendations in the Report very carefully with a view to implementing them as quickly as possible.