HL Deb 23 May 1988 vol 497 cc638-9

2.44 p.m.

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the present conditions of the 9,000 or more Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong and what measures are being taken to achieve their permanent resettlement.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)

My Lords, a recent influx has brought the total number of Vietnamese boat people in Hong Kong to 13,200. The existing closed centres are very crowded and emergency facilities are being established to accommodate recent arrivals. We are pursuing our own programme of resettlement and continuing our diplomatic campaign to persuade other Governments to follow suit.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree that the present conditions are verging on the subhuman? Will the Minister tell us in a little more detail how the Government are going about getting international co-operation to achieve resettlement?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that we are acutely conscious of the gravity of the crisis facing Hong Kong. We are in close contact with the Hong Kong Government on a way forward. Indeed, my right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary will have this matter high on his agenda when he visits Hong Kong later this week. But the root of the problem lies elsewhere, as I think the noble Lord will recognise. It lies in Vietnam. A long-term solution lies in the creation of acceptable conditions in Vietnam to enable the return to Vietnam of those who see leaving as the most sensible thing to do.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, will the noble Lord tell the House what action the Government of Hong Kong with Her Majesty's Government are proposing to take between now and 1997 when the transition takes place?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, the noble Lord asks about events after 1997. It is our firm intention that the Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong should be resolved well before that date. But the joint declaration on the future of Hong Kong provides for continuation after 30th June 1997 of Hong Kong's present social and legal systems. Any refugees then in Hong Kong should thus retain their current status.

Viscount St. Davids

My Lords, has the noble Lord taken into consideration that anybody who leaves his country in these extremely difficult and dangerous circumstances is likely to be far above the average in mentality and value in comparison with the rest of the people in that country? Has the noble Lord considered what a Sultan of Turkey said in the Middle Ages, when the Jews were thrown out of Spain: that he considered no man wise who expelled from his country those who were among the most valuable of his subjects in order to enrich his greatest enemy?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, the answer to the noble Viscount is that these people are not being expelled; they are choosing to leave under their own volition. But naturally the fault for that lies very largely in Vietnam, where the economic conditions are not suitable to retain them.

Lord MacLehose of Beoch

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that false rumour in Vietnam is playing a part in encouraging this traffic? Will he say to what extent the overseas services of the BBC are being used to put the record straight?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am not sure to what rumour the noble Lord is referring. All I can say is that we shall certainly take steps to ensure that, so far as possible, we meet the very real concerns of all those involved. As I have said, my right honourable and learned friend is going to Hong Kong and he will discuss this matter when he is there.

Lord MacLehose of Beoch

My Lords, the rumour to which I was referring was that restrictions in Hong Kong were being lifted.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, perhaps I may say to the noble Lord that no decisions have been taken on future policy.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, given that many Hong Kong residents and citizens are leaving, have left or are planning to leave, can the Government persuade the receiving countries to which those citizens are going to take an equal number of refugees?

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, we shall continue to urge all those countries to maintain their high level of uptake.