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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1979
UNHCR TRIES ITS BEST TO RESETTLE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
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THE UNHCR HAS GIVEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AN ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL USE ITS BEST ENDEAVOURS TO RESETTLE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES OVERSEAS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LYDIA DUNN, MR. DAVIES SAID IN IMPLEMENTING THIS ASSURANCE, THE UNHCR REGISTERED ALL REFUGEES, PROVIDED CONSULATES OF POTENTIAL RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES WITH DETAILS AND ALLOCATED STAFF TO CARRY OUT A LIAISON ROLE BETWEEN CONSULATES, REFUGEE CAMP MANAGEMENTS AND INDIVIDUAL REFUGEES AND FAMILY GROUPS.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE UNHCR IS INCREASING ITS STAFF ALLOCATED TO RESETTLEMENT DUTIES AND THE FACILITIES IN CAMPS FOR LIAISON AND INTERVIEWS.
+CLOSER CO-ORDINATION IS ALSO BEING DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE UNHCR, CAMP MANAGEMENTS, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND MY BRANCH TO ENSURE THAT THE MACHINERY OF RESETTLEMENT WORKS AS EFFICIENTLY AND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.+
MR. DAVIES POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH FROM TIME TO TIME THERE WERE EXCEPTIONS, THE MAJORITY OF INTERVIEWS, DISCUSSIONS, MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS AND PREPARATIONS FOR OVERSEAS RESETTLEMENT HAD PROCEEDED AS PLANNED.
HE SAID THE EXTENT OF 'NO SHOWS' WAS RELATIVELY SMALL WHEN ONE CONSIDERED THE SCALE OF THE OPERATION, THE EXTENT OF NECESSARY TRANSFER OF REFUGEES BETWEEN CAMPS AND SOMETIMES THE SHORT NOTICES GIVEN BY RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES. +WHERE THEY DO OCCUR THEY ARE QUICKLY FOLLOWED UP, HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENTS
FOR BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES
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THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AGREED THAT IT IS UNDESIRABLE FOR BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO REPAY TIME DEPOSITS IN ADVANCE OF THE IR MATURITY DATES AND SUPPORTED THE GOVERNMENT'S VIEW THAT SUCH DEPOSITS SHOULD BE TREATED AS SHORT- TERM FUNDS, THE HON. LI FOOK-WO SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR. LI WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) NO. 2) BILL 1979 AND THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AMENDMENT) NO. 2) BILL 1979.
MR. LI NOTED THAT THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTY IN ASCERTAINING THE DETAILS OF TRANSACTIONS WHERE THERE WAS ONLY AN ORAL AGREEMENT. HOWEVER SINCE THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING WAS CONFIDENT THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE POSITION FAIRLY CLOSELY, THE UNOFFICIALS HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE THE PROPOSAL A TRY, HE SAID.
/ON THE
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