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29 April 1993
Doc. 6820
OPINION
on the Vietnamese migrants and asylum-seekers
in Hong Kong ("Boat People") 1
(Rapporteur: Mr PANOV, Bulgaria,
Union of Democratic Forces)
1. In 1990, when two motions for a resolution on refugees and asylum-seekers from South-East Asia were tabled, there was considerable concern about the situation of the so-called "boat people" coming to Hong Kong from Vietnam. It was therefore logical that the Parliamentary Assembly wished to deal with this issue, which immediately concerned one of the Council of Europe's member states, the United Kingdom, and which raised complicated issues of human rights.
2. Moreover, in 1990 it was felt that the Assembly should also discuss respect for the basic values of the Council of Europe beyond the sphere of its geographical competence. As democracy and human rights were being accepted throughout Europe following the end of the totalitarian regimes in the East, the organisation's new pan-European role raised its ambitions.
3. However, the situation in Europe since 1990 has dramatically worsened, in particular as regards the situation of refugees. The workload of the Assembly has also increased considerably, partly in response to these events. At the beginning of April 1993, for instance, the Political Affairs Committee had no less than 48 texts to prepare according to its work programme. The Assembly, clearly, will have to establish its priorities.
4. As Mr Atkinson himself observes in his excellent and very comprehensive report, the end of the boat people crisis is in sight. While over 34,000 Vietnamese came to Hong Kong in 1989, there were only 12 in the past year. Certainly, serious humanitarian problems continue to exist, but they are not nearly as acute as when the original motions were tabled.
5. Accordingly, the committee is of the opinion that the draft resolution presented by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography which rightly stresses the political roots of the problem should be supported, but also proposes that the Assembly give clear instructions to its committees to concentrate in the future as far as possible on the pressing problems immediately facing Europe.
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Reporting committee: Committee on Refugees, Migration and Demography (Doc. 6818)
Committee for opinion: Political Affairs Committee
Reference to committee: Docs. 6181 et 6182, References Nos. 1662 and 1663 of 21 March 1993
Draft opinion approved by the committee on 26 April 1993
Secretaries of the committee: MM Sorinas and Kleijssen