In the past 16 years 63,000 boat people have fled Vietnam to seek asylum in Hong Kong. Unable to accommodate them in overcrowded detention centers, the colony wants to send back all who do not qualify as bona fide refugees under U.N. guidelines. Last week, after two years of negotiations, Britain and Vietnam signed a statement of understanding in which Hanoi agreed to the return of nonpolitical refugees.
A key issue -- whether or not force would be used in the repatriation -- has yet to be resolved. Hong Kong officials implied last week that coercion would be used if necessary,...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
