WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1980
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POWERS TO COUNTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
EXTENDED ONE YEAR ****
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY AGREED TO EXTEND THE PROVISIONS OF TWO ORDINANCES, AIMED AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, BY A FURTHER YEAR TO DECEMBER 31, 1981.
THE PROVISIONS IN THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE GOVERN THE REMOVAL OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG AT ANY TIME AND DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
THOSE IN THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE ALLOW FOR THE FORFEITURE OF SHIPS INVOLVED IN CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS EXPLAINED TO THE COUNCIL THAT THE SEASONAL INFLUX OF BOAT REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM MIGHT CONTINUE NEXT YEAR AND THE EXTENT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA AND MACAU HAD BEEN A MATTER OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN.
THERE IS THEREFORE NO INDICATION THAT THE POWERS PROVIDED WILL CEASE TO BE REQUIRED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE UNWISE NOT TO BE ARMED WITH THESE PROVISIONS DURING THE COMING YEAR, HE SAID.
MR GRIFFITHS ALSO TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT A NEW MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY) BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO GIVE PERMANENT PROVISIONS TO DEAL WITH, AMONG OTHER MATTERS, THE QUESTION OF EXCESS PASSENGERS.
JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE RECEIVES MORE DONATIONS
******
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE ANOTHER $30 MILLION TO THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN SHA TIN.
THE DONATION BRINGS THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL COMMITMENT TOWARDS THE PROJECT TO $55 MILLION.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE HON LI FOOK-WO WHEN HE TABLED THE THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE BOARD FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1980 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BOARD, MR LI SAID, WAS GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY THIS GENEROUS GESTURE WHICH UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CENTRE TO OUR SPORTSMEN AND ATHLETES, AND INDEED TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE+.
TOGETHER WITH $82.5 MILLION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AND A FURTHER $12.5 MILLION FROM THE QUEEN'S SILVER JUBILEE FUND, THE TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR THE CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS NOW $150 MILLION.
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