Refugee problem caused by politics—Minister

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 3

Refugee problem caused by politics —Minister

iPA Wellington i A British Minister yesterIday urged politicians to remember that the refugee problem resulted from politL cal causes. Mr Peter Blaker, Minister of State at the Foreign Office, told delegates to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference: “We should dedicate our energies, intelligence, and wills as politictians to see that these causes are removed.” Speaking in a discussion on refugees at a plenary session, Mr Blaker, the leader of the British delegation, told delegates this was the message he believed refugees would like to see coming out of the conference. , He said Britain had a’ particular responsibility for Hong Kong, one of the most heavily populated territories in the world, which bore a disproportionate burden of the number of Vietnamese boat people there. Hong Kong this year had received 73,000 people from Vietnam, of whom 62,000 still remained. “It has taken a very large number, but it has received fewer offers of permanent resettlement for those it has

taken than many other countries.” Mr Blaker said. ] “That is why we have (said in Britain that all our 110,000 extra places, which we promised, are intended for refugees from Hong Kong.” Mr Charles Young, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, quoted a report in which the New Zealand Under-Secretary for Immigration (Mr Malcolm) had said: “Apart from Hong Kong, the camps are clearing fairly rapidly, and given no major change in world events I believe we may be in a position to reduce our intake.” Mr Young said that was a fair statement because it was the present trend of resettlement of the Vietnamese boat people. But he questioned Mr Malcolm’s words, “apart from' Hong Kong.” “The question is: ‘Why apart from Hong Kong?’ “What has Hong Kong done? Why does Hong Kong have to be singled out for this special treatment?” Mr Young said. “Why does Hong Kong have to be penalised for being too humanitarian to the incoming refugees? “Hong Kong has never'

turned one single boatload of people away by force, inducement, or whatever. “Hong Kong, of course, does not welcome the refugees but sees the need to receive them because they have travelled 2000 miles in perilous seas to reach our country,” Mr Young said. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) told the conference he had spoken to Mr Malcolm and accepted his assurance that his reference to Hong Kong was not intended to denigrate the work of Hong Kong, but was intended to point out that it seemed more difficult to clear the camps there than to clear those in some other areas. “I assure the delegate from Hong Kong that the people of New Zealand understand and appreciate 'the tremendous task of his Government and the people of Hong Kong in trying to meet the refugee problem,” Mr Rowling said. New Zealand’s efforts to help refugees were increasing “and perhaps we can claim to be doing more than many others.” although Mr Rowling said he did not believe New Zealand was doing as much as it needed to.