TNAG-2232-FCO40-3204-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 83

1717 OCT '91 16:01

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what we now seem to be moving towards is something far more satisfactory,

which is, an overall way of dealing with the problem not just within internationally

managed centres, but arrangements for returning to Vietnam, back to their

homes in Vietnam, all those people who are found not to be political refugees.

Question inaudible.

a

A. We are in many ways in this path finder, we have the biggest problem in the region, we've got far more Vietnamese migrants than any other place in the region. Thailand has colossal problems with people from Cambodia,

Whatever

but Vietnamese, what used to be Vietnamese boat people till many came by

land we have many more than anybody else, so we are the path finder.

we do, whatever arrangements we make I am sure they will also apply similarly simular problems elsewhere in the region. But what we are looking for is arrangements to deal with the biggest problem in the region that's Hong

A Kong, and then I would expect the Vietnamese to make simular arrangements with other people who are affected in exactly the same way. We don't, I'm just sort of summing it up, we don't have to reach an agreement which covers the whole of South East Asia we are looking for an agreement which covers the Hong Kong problem but then once that is agreed I am sure it can be applied similarly to other countries.

Question inaudible.

A. Not returning refugees, returning non refugees.

It is actually quite

an important distinction, because what we are trying to do is find a way