TNAG-2210-FCO40-3170-Future-of-Hong-Kong-political-parties-1991 — Page 39

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

U.K. and Hong Kong Governments.

For example, in a major speech

the United States last year, a leading Member of this Council stated that Britain's decision to repatriate 51 Vietnamese in December 1989 was in fact made in Hong Kong, and said, "It shoula be stressed that the decision was not one which we in Hong Kong

took lightly or willingly." I respectfully submit, Sir, that the decision was one which we in Hong Kong did not take at all.

under

We in this Council today must do rar more to make clear chat

our colonial system of

the question of system of government, vietnamese sóat people is the responsibility of

tne

one soveLelyn

first asylum

U.X. Government. Since both repatriation and first

ourselves,

yet until

now

LL

A

pertain to foreign affairs, we in Hong Kong cannot solve the

had little Britain has problems

incentive to stick its neck out on a problem that it has

successfully convinced international public opinion

It is no wonder that responsibility of the people of Hong Kong. the British Government has spent so little time or political

capital

trying

to

the convince

United

repatriation of non-refugees to Vietnam.

Che

States

to

accept

Why should they suffer

in the eyes of the world when they can so easily pass the blame

on to Hong Kong?

until we make the

Surely, we must realize by now that

British Government pay, it will do nothing to solve the problem.

1 therefore propose today, years ago, that the Hong Kong Government place the responsibility

25

Snamper

· proposed in cals bnamper

TWO

where it rightfully lies, and force the British Government to pay

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