WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1980
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IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL
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THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE SENIOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS AND IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS WITH CERTAIN STATUTORY POWER UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WAS PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
UNDER THE AMENDED LEGISLATION THESE TWO GRADES OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ARE GIVEN THE POWER TO SEIZE, REMOVE AND DETAIN ANYTHING WHICH MAY BE FORFEITED UNDER THE ORDINANCE OR WHICH IS OR CONTAINS EVIDENCE OF THE COMMISSION OF AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO THE UMELCO LEGISLATIVE GROUP FOR DISCUSSING WITH HIM THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPLICATION AND OPERATIONAL DESIRABILITY OF THE BILL.
HE ASSURED THAT THE POWER CONFERRED WOULD BE USED BY A SENIOR IMMIGRATION OFFICER OR AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT ONLY UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER AND NORMALLY AS PART OF A LARGE SCALE OPERATION UNDER THE CONTROL OF A SENIOR OFFICER.
+ IT IS NOT INTENDED THAT A SENIOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT OR AN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT SHOULD GO OUT AND SEIZE OBJECTS ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE,+ HE STRESSED.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN NT ARE SATISFACTORY
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THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATING EMERGENCY CASES ARISING FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND MATERNITY COMPLICATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE SATISFACTORY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHARLES YEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR THONG SAID BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE MAJOR HOSPITALS IN SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN, STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE EMERGENCY SERVICES WHENEVER NECESSARY IN THE DISTRICT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE FACILITIES WERE PROVIDED.
HE EXPLAINED THAT AT PRESENT, SUCH EMERGENCY CASES WOULD BE FIRST ATTENDED TO AT THE EMERGENCY UNIT OF THE NEAREST DISTRICT HOSPITALS OR CLINICS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+AFTER APPROPRIATE INITIAL TREATMENT, DEPENDING ON THEIR CONDITIONS AND IF CONSIDERED NECESSARY BY THE ATTENDING PHYSICIANS, SOME OF THE CASES MAY THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE NEAREST HOSPITALS FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED TREATMENT, HE SAID.
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