Speech #870210909

A second observation. Mr. President. is that the overt cause of our present concern. the recent heavy influx of refugees into Hong Kong. has merely served to highlight an already serious refugee problem in the crown colony. Hong Kong is really the only exit from the Chinese mainland to freedom and security. For over a decade Hong Kong has thus harbored antiCommunist refugeesat an average rate of some 50.000 persons annually. This year the number has already surpassed the 50.000 mark. So the problem in Hong Kong is not of a temporary nature. It has been there for many years And so long as tyranny rules the Chinese mainland. the influx of refugees into Hong Kong will continue. The government of the crown colony receives no subsidy from the United Kingdom. But over the years and with the assistance of numerous voluntary agencies. at least 10 of which are American. the government has strained its resources and ingenuity to approach a solution to the refugee problem in Hong Kong. Since 1953. these efforts have been assisted through our Far East refugee program and generous grants of Public Law 480 agricultural commodities. So a great deal has been accomplished for the refugees in Hong Kong. and a solid foundation has been laid for the continued efforts of the free world. A third observation. Mr. President. is that the recent tide of refugees sweeping into Hong Kong reflects growing unemployment on the mainland. food shortages. a widespread apprehension of famine in the near future. and serious general dislocations in every sector of the Chinese Communist system. In short. the refugees depict the failure of communism and the agony of China. Now governments have a way of turning these conditions into a national asset. To what extent the Chinese people are being used as a political or psychological weapon is difficult to determine. But the suddenness with which the recent surge of refugees began and ended. shows the official connivance of the Peiping Government. So our action in this situation is not without serious implications for our security in the Far East. In thinking of an approach to the refugee problem in Hong Kong. and the extent of Americas reponsibility. we should do well to project or thoughts beyond todays emergency situation and momentarily expedient relief measures. The challenge in all refugee problems is the task of providing effective asylum to bewildered people. commensurate. of course. with available resources. It is the task of creating the best possible conditions of the refugees to live reasonably normal and productive lives. to be selfreliant and free from the shackles of a tortured past. On the basis of testimony and other information available to the subcommittee. it would appear that the best approach to the problem in Hong Kong lies in fostering the local rehabilitation and integration of the refugee population. This is. admittedly. a gigantic task. and no one can measure accurately the future dimensions of the problem. But circumstances dictate this course of actionat least for the major portion of the refugee community. The Hong Kong government has made tremendous strides in this direction. But additional energy must be expended to get over the hump of the refugee problem. The following areas of assistance should be fully explored with the British Government: First. An expanded general program of local resettlement and rehabilitation.