Taiwan Today

The General Assembly,

Considering that for humanitarian reasons refugees in various parts of the world require international assistance,

Recalling resolution 1167 (XII) of 26 November 1957, which recognized that problem of Chinese refugees in Hongkong is of concern to the international community and points out the need for emergency and long-term assistance,

Appreciating the efforts of States Members of the United Nations, Government of Hongkong, certain non-governmental organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in endeavoring to meet the needs of these refugees entering Hongkong,

1. Reaffirms its concern over the situation of the Chinese refugees;

2. Appeals to the States members of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies and to interested non-governmental organizations to increase their contributions and to continue giving all possible aid to these refugees;

3. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to continue his good offices, in agreement with the Governments of the countries concerned, to provide assistance to the Chinese refugees in Hongkong.

On the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Statement by Chow Shu-kai, representative of the Republic of China on the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly

November 20, 1962

Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese Delegation wishes to associate itself with other delegations in paying tribute to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for his commendable efforts to solve the refugee problem, "old" and "new".

My Delegation is particularly impressed with his accomplishments with regard to the "old" refugee problem. As indicated in his Report, the number of unsettled refugees at the beginning of 1955 amounted to 270,000 in camps in Austria, Germany, Greece and Italy, and there were approximately 16,000 refugees of European origin in the Far East. During the 7 year period between 1 January 1955 and 31 December 1961, the total number of "old" refugees was reduced to 65,000, in spite of a new influx of 200,000 Hungarian refugees. Further measures to solve the "old" refugee problem are now being taken by the Office of the High Commissioner. My Delegation is pleased to note that in his statement before the Economic and Social Council at its 34th session, the High Commissioner said that "as far as European refugees are concerned, we have at least reached the stage of liquidating what can only be called a residual problem". We are happy that the Chinese Government has participated in a modest way in this worthy cause by joining other governments in making annual financial contributions.

I now turn to the "new" refugee problem. It was estimated that early this year there were some 600,000 refugees on the border of Morocco and Tunisia. By the end of July, more than 103,000 of these refugees were repatriated from Tunisia and more than 45,000 from Morocco. We are confident that through the continuing joint efforts of the Office of the High Commissioner, the League of Red Cross Societies and the Governments concerned, the problem will be finally and satisfactorily disposed of.

In other parts of Africa 150,000 refugees from Angola remain in the Congo (Leopoldville). There are approximately 6,000 refugees in Togo and some 135,000 in different areas neighboring on Rwanda. All governments concerned have granted these refugees asylum. Reception centers and emergency relief programmes have been set up by governments and international relief agencies to provide for the needs of the refugees. It now appears that with the cooperation of all interested parties and with the help of the international community, the problem of these refugees will be solved step by step.

The report of the High Commissioner has also directed our attention to the problem of the refugees in Asia. At the suggestion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the High Commissioner has made available his good offices facilitating the task of assistance to the refugees in Nepal. Upon the request of the Cambodian Government, the High Commissioner has investigated the position of refugees in Cambodia and has made appropriations from his Emergency Fund for aid to these refugees.

We wish to turn now to the problem of the Chinese refugees in Hongkong and Macao. May I first deal with the Chinese refugees in Macao. My Delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the Portuguese Government, the High Commissioner as well as certain non-governmental organizations and individuals for their contribution towards promoting the welfare of the Chinese refugees in Macao. The High Commissioner reports that the Portuguese Government has submitted to him a plan for assistance to these refugees. The plan provides, among other things, the construction of a reception center, housing, schools and industrial premises. It is designed to enable some 30,000 refugees to settle down in Macao and become self-supporting. The High Commissioner has already announced that he would devote his efforts particularly to the establishment of the reception center. During the discussion of the High Commissioner's Programme at the 7th Session of the Executive Committee, some countries expressed their support of the action taken by the High Commissioner. It is most gratifying to note that the Government of Belgium has earmarked certain funds for this purpose. We have no doubt that there will be ready response from other sources. Inasmuch as the number of Chinese refugees in Macao continues to increase, a larger measure of international cooperation and assistance is very much needed.

The problem of the Chinese refugees in Hongkong is a serious one. At the 7th and 8th Sessions of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme, the problem was discussed at some length. The High Commissioner declared on those occasions that he would undertake anything he could usefully do to alleviate the human plight of these refugees.

The problem of the Chinese refugees in Hongkong is not, of course, a new one. It has had a history of some 12 years. When the seat of my Government was on the mainland, there was no border control on both sides for Chinese travellers. An iron curtain was dropped by the Chinese Communists as soon as they reached the Kwangtung-Hongkong boundary. The Hongkong authorities subsequently also adopted restrictive measures. In spite of the barriers thus erected, freedom-seeking Chinese still risk their lives to make the perilous journey to Hongkong in order to escape from the Communist tyranny. Since life has become more and more intolerable under the Communists, more and more people have tried to flee. There has been a continuous flow during the past 12 years. While many have been frustrated in their attempts, the number of those who have succeeded in reaching Hongkong is very large. The figure in the 12 year period as estimated by the Hongkong authorities is over one million. And the influx is bound to continue as long as the Communist regime remains on the mainland. We would like to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of my Government and people to the authorities of Hongkong for the good work they have done in absorbing the Chinese refugees. The Chinese Government has offered and continues to offer its cooperation for the alleviation of the refugee situation in Hongkong. We believe, however, that the magnitude of the task calls for international assistance, especially in view of the constant increase in the size of the refugee population.

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, my Delegation has time and again sought to enlist the help of the United Nations in this humanitarian work. In response to the appeal of my Government and the concern of other interested member States of the United Nations, the General Assembly at its 12th Session in 1957 adopted Resolution 1167 (XII) which recognized "that the problem is such as to be of concern to the international community," took into account "the need for emergency and long term assistance" and authorized "the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to use his good offices to encourage arrangements for contributions."

Through the endeavour of the High Commissioner and thanks to the generosity of certain governments and voluntary agencies, contributions have been made to assist the Chinese refugees in Hongkong. And the Government of Hongkong, of course, has continued to spend large sums for this purpose. The needs, however, are so vast that greater efforts are required. The problem has become more acute as evidenced by events which occurred in April and May of this year.

Forced by man-made economic disasters, the Chinese Communists in the Canton area closed down large numbers of factories and schools in the Spring, and, true to their tradition of treating human beings like cattle, intended to drive the workers and students to work in the rural "communes." The country-side being bled white, the workers and students were naturally most reluctant to do so. As a matter of fact, farmers were deserting their land and started a migration themselves. The workers, students and farmers moved toward one direction—to seek freedom and food in Hongkong. At first it was in small groups, and the number grew bigger and bigger, forming finally a mass exodus. The political and economic chaos obtaining in the local communist administration in Kwangtung was such that it was caught unaware of and unprepared for this alarming situation. During the months of April and May of this year, more than 150,000 freedom-seekers managed to cross the border into Hongkong. Among them, 50% were farmers, 25% industrial workers, 10% students; and 15% of them were Communist cadres and military personnel. The vast majority of them were able-bodied men and women between the ages of 15 to 35. According to their own accounts, they were escaping partly because they could not endure the starvation rations of 15 pounds of rice per head each month, which would only yield a daily food intake of around 1,000 calories for every person, and partly because they wanted to lead a life of freedom outside the Communist controlled mainland. To their profound sorrow and despair, the Hongkong Government departed from its previous policy of providing a sanctuary for these unfortunate people, and they were forcibly sent back to the Communist territory to an uncertain fate. In this connection, it may be pertinent to recall Paragraph 19 of the High Commissioner's Report on International Protection, Document A/AC. 96/152, in which it is stated, "There has developed an almost world wide recognition of the principle that no person fleeing from persecution should be turned back." The situation I have just mentioned has therefore aroused the conscience of the free peoples the world over.

Although the mass exodus was stopped, the flight of refugees still continues. Thousands find their way into Hongkong every month, despite the stringent preventive measure on both sides.

The Hongkong Government calls the refugees "immigrant population". No matter whatever term is used, the fact remains that the Government of Hongkong is faced with the problem of improving the lot of the refugees who arrived in earlier years and of absorbing the unavoidable increase of new arrivals. With a view to easing the burden of the Government of Hongkong in its humanitarian task of helping the refugees, it behooves the international community to redouble its efforts in giving aid. In continuation of their past endeavours, the Chinese Government and Chinese civic organizations such as the Free China Mainland Relief Association have offered and will continue to offer their full cooperation. We are gratified to see the special arrangements made by the Governments of Canada and the United States in accepting a number of Chinese refugees. We are also grateful that many friendly countries in Latin America are also prepared to receive a number of Chinese families.

The High Commissioner has achieved so much for the refugees in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as shown in the Report before us. By comparison, the Chinese refugees have not received the attention and benefit they deserve, owing to certain technicality. The word "discrimination" has been frequently heard in this Committee. The absence of the High Commissioner's more active help to the Chinese refugees might have engendered this painful feeling. My Delegation believes that such is not the policy of the Office of the High Commissioner. Nevertheless, it is high time that efforts should be made to remove such misapprehension.

Distinguished Delegations that are interested in this important issue will no doubt have some comments to make. We wish to reserve our right to state our views further at a later stage.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, in view of the many achievements of the Office of the High Commissioner, and in view of the continuing need for international action on behalf of the refugees, the Chinese Delegation heartily supports Document A/C. 3/L. 1029 tabled by a number of Delegations recommending the prolongation of this Office.

On the Resolution on Refugees Adopted by the 17th Session General Assembly

Statement by Chow Shu-kai, representative of the Republic of China on the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

December 7, 1962

As was pointed out by one of the speakers in the Third Committee, the resolution which has just been adopted on the question of Chinese refugees in Hongkong is a diluted version of the original draft. I wish to explain very briefly the considerations and hopes which have guided the Chinese delegation in voting for this revised version.

The question of giving assistance to the Chinese refugees is a humanitarian one. It was in this spirit that the resolution was introduced and adopted. In appreciation of this spirit, my delegation must express its sincere thanks to the sponsors and supporters of the resolution.

Following the Third Committee's debate on this question a fortnight ago, there were numerous press reports from Hongkong concerning the plight of the Chinese refugees and the continuing increase in their number, and this fully vindicates the action taken by the proponents of this resolution and justifies its adoption by the General Assembly. During the last two weeks the New York Times alone has published three lengthy and graphic reports on this subject. One of them gave a vivid account of the tragic deaths of nineteen women and children who, like many others, tried to escape to Hongkong by sea but lost their lives when their boat capsized. The two other reports revealed the dire need for more help of those refugees who managed to reach Hongkong.

Motivated by their noble desire to alleviate the plight of these refugees, and mindful of the limitations imposed by many factors, the sponsors presented the original draft resolution with a view to seeking a more effective implementation of the principle that was the basis of resolution 1157 (XII) adopted by the General Assembly five years ago.

The resolution which we have just adopted today reaffirms the concern of the international community regarding this question, of which the Chinese refugees in Hongkong are, of course, deeply appreciative, although the provisions of the resolution may be regarded by them as falling a little short of their expectations in view of their present need.

At the same time, the omission of any mention of refugees in Macao will cause some disappointment to the displaced persons in that locality.

In voting for this resolution, my delegation had the following thoughts in mind. In the case of the Chinese refugees in Macao, we should like to think that the omission of their mention from the resolution is not due to any lack of sympathy on the part of the international community, but rather to the fact that a comprehensive resettlement plan has already been initiated by the Portuguese Government. It is our fervent hope that the plan will materialize as speedily as possible through the generosity from all sources which has been requested by the Portuguese authorities.

With regard to the Chinese refugees in Hongkong, they can take some comfort in the fact that at least the United Nations has not chosen to forget them. Also, it is the spirit behind the resolution that is important and it is the spirit that will shape the course of future developments. In this connection, my delegation is heartened by the announcement of the representative of the United States that her Government will make substantial increases in her contributions towards this worthy cause. Calling refugees by whatever name, the Hongkong Government, which has taken a good view for the resettlement of its refugees, must be anxious to obtain greater relief to ease their hardships. With greater outside help, the Hongkong Government can accomplish more.

As to the part to be played by the High Commissioner, the flexible application of his good offices depends on how much interest he takes in this matter. He can do as much as he desires, to explore all possibilities in suggesting resettlement plans, collecting funds, and in seeking agreement of the parties concerned. In short, the obligation assumed by the High Commissioner under this resolution is a moral one, and his performance will be judged accordingly.

While the resolution does not specifically request the High Commissioner to report on the refugee situation in Hongkong, certainly no one would accuse him of being over zealous if he should include this item in any of his future reports. We trust that he would not chose to omit anything which should be brought to the attention of the United Nations.

With the moral and humanitarian significance in view, my delegation wishes to convey once more its gratitude and admiration to the sponsors of the plan. By the same token we also extend our sincere appreciation to all those who have lent their support to the adoption of the resolution.