STATUS OF REFUGEES AFTER 1997
Our aim is to ensure that all
refugees are resettled well
before 1997. However in the event that some remain after
that date, no grounds for thinking that their status will
be any different from at present. Agreement on future of
Hong Kong provides that Hong Kong's laws will remain
basically unchanged after 1 July 1997. In case of
Vietnamese refugees, relevant legislation is the Hong
Kong Immigration Ordinance, which contains special
provision under which Vietnamese refugees may be allowed
to remain in Hong Kong pending resettlement elsewhere.
Would add that Chinese themselves have admirable record
as providers of asylum to Indo-Chinese refugees: 270,000
are already resettled there.
SCORRI RECOMMENDATION THAT FAMILY REUNION CRITERIA BE
RELAXED
Not in position to comment on this yet but know my Rt
Hon Friend the Home Secretary is considering this and
other recommendations carefully and that he will respond
to house as soon as possible.