Mr. President. Hong Kong harbors the worlds largest single concentration of refugees from a Communistcontrolled country. In the past few weeks we have been reading and hearing a great deal about the situation there. and the plight of Chinese refugees causes genuine concern and sympathy in the hearts and minds of all Americans. Early this year. the Subcommittee on Refugees and Escapees. of which I have the honor to serve as chairman. directed its staff to inquire into the refugee problem in Hong Kong and Macao. Reports indicated that as early as August and September 1961. an increasing number of Chinese refugees was seeking asylum in these areas. Events over the past few weeks. however. have particularly pointed up the urgency of the subcommittees inquiry. To facilitate this inquiry. to inform more fully the Congress and the American people. and to help define Americas responsibility in Hong Kong. the subcommittee opened hearings on May 29. At this time. testimony in open and executive session was received from the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs. Mr. Averell Harriman. and the State Departments Director of Refugee and Migration Affairs. Mr. Richard Brown. Last week the subcommittee heard representatives of the voluntary agencies working in Hong Kong. Additional testimony will be received later this month. Our response to the refugee challenge in Hong Kong. Mr. President. must be made within a framework of responsibility.
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Refugees Refugee seeking asylum refugees refugee