Chairman. these three amendments go together and will be followed by two others dealing with other parts of the same issue. They can be voted up or down very quickly. They represent. as was discussed in general debate. an effort to remove the racial discrimination now in this bill in that it makes no provision for refugees and escapees and returnees in Asia where live half the human beings on this planet. The first part of the amendment modifies the definition of refugees from Communist persecution so as to include those in Asia as well as in Europe. The second part provides 2.000 visas to Chinese who have fled or escaped from Communist tyranny on the mainland of China. and who are now in Hong Kong. The third part amends paragraph (h) on page 5 which reads: (h) Not to exceed 3.000 visas to aliens of European origin who. because of persecution or fear of persecution. fled from Communistdominated China after June 16. 1950. and who apply for such visas in Hong Kong. That paragraph deals with the white people who have escaped or may still escape from Communist China. They are mostly white Russians and their children. They have been in China since World War I. and are in a sense people without a country. They ought to be given some haven but to have 3.000 visas for that group whose total number may not be over 3.000 to 5.000. and to have no visas at all. as the bill now stands. or a smaller number of 2.000 which my amendment provides. for Chinese who are victims of and refugees from the same Communist tyranny would be an outright slap in the face of the Chinese and would be resented by all Asians. So my amendment reduces the number for the white refugees to the same number. 2.000. as provided for refugees of the Chinese race.
Keywords matched
visas refugees