THE 21,000 Vietnamese boat people in the territory cannot be sent home until the 'dust settles' on a US congressional bill aimed at resettling asylum seekers, the Government admitted yesterday.
Refugee Co-ordinator Brian Bresnihan said the Republican-led proposal had delayed implementation of the internationally approved Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Under the plan, all boat people in the region are to be returned by the end of next year.
'Obviously, the prospects, or the hopes we have, are unlikely to be realised in the coming weeks until the dust settles on the legislative proposals now before the US Congress,' Mr Bresnihan told the Legislative Council's security panel.
But he said it was too early to say the target for return could not be met.
'We are in a transition period . . . This is a setback, but this is just temporary,' he said.
Mr Bresnihan said the Government had voiced its concern to the US Government through the British Embassy and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Washington. Both were lobbying congressmen.
