§ Sir Peter BlakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the United States Administration regarding the comprehensive programme of action for the return to Vietnam of illegal immigrants to Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI refer my right hon. Friend to the press release of 5 June entitled "Vietnamese asylum seekers", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
§ Sir Russell JohnstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has received from the Government of Hong Kong about the projected numbers of Vietnamese boat people coming to Hong Kong during the remainder of 1991; and what action he proposes.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI refer the hon. Member to my reply of 18 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Mr. Temple-Morris).
To ease the pressure on Hong Kong, we are pursuing as a matter of urgency with Vietnam, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation of Migration the establishment of an internationally managed centre on territory provided by Vietnam for those asylum seekers who are determined not to be refugees and have not taken advantage of the existing voluntary return programme.