WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981
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NO POLICY CHANGE ON BOAT PEOPLE
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THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IN REGARD TO VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THAT ADOPTED IN 1979, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LYDIA DUNN, MR DAVIES SAID THE POLICY IS TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TEMPORARY ASYLUM IN HONG KONG AGAINST A GUARANTEE GIVEN BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES THAT THEY WILL USE THE IR BEST ENDEAVOURS TO SECURE THE IR RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS TO COUNTRIES OF PERMANENT ASYLUM.
+IN THE CASE OF THOSE RESCUED AT SEA BY PROPERLY-REGISTERED OCEAN-GOING VESSELS IN WHICH HONG KONG IS THE IR NEXT DESIGNATED PORT OF CALL AND WHERE THE VESSEL DOES NOT CALL AT ANY OTHER PORT FIRST, WE GRANT TEMPORARY ASYLUM AGAINST A GUARANTEE FROM THE COUNTRY OF THE FLAG CARRIER THAT IT WILL RESETTLE THEM WITHIN THREE MONTHS.
DURING THIS PERIOD, MR DAVIES SAID, SUCH PERSONS ARE DETAINED AND ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WORK.
*
THREE BILLS PASSED
***
THREE BILLS, THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY (PRINCE OF WALES' WEDDING) BILL 1981, THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 AND THE MAGISTRATES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1981, WERE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LAGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
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