TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1987
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LFGCO TO DEAL WITH BILL ON CLOSED CAMPS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
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A BILL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE POWER TO DETAIN VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN CLOSED CAMPS AND TO REPATRIATE ANY * THEM IF AND WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, IS EXPECTED TO GO THROUGH THE FULL LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ONE SITTING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982,
WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ON JUNE 18.
REFERRING TO THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR LEWIS DAVIES, SAID EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS HAD MADE IT NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STRONGER MEASURES TO DETER THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES INTO HONG KONG.
IF THE BILL IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE NECESSARY FUNDS HAVE BEEN VOTED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT CLOSED CAMPS BE SET UP WITH EFFECT FROM FRIDAY (JULY 2).
AT THE SAME LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, 19 QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF MATTERS, INCLUDING PROGRESS ON THE USE OF CHINESE AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, THE CASUALTY STAFF LEVEL AT SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, ACCRUED WAGES OF LAID-OFF WORKERS AND ARBITRARY DISMISSAL OF WORKERS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE QUESTIONS ON THE ADEQUACY OF EVENING CLINICS, THE STATUS OF THE TEXTILE NEGOTIATION WITH THE EEC, TEACHER STAFFING AT SPECIAL SCHOOLS, LISTING OF APPROVED GEO-TECHNICAL ENGINEERS, PSYCHIATRIC COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES, AND STUDY ROOM FACILITIES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL ALSO ASK ABOUT COUNTERFEITING OF PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, THE USE OF LASER-BEAM EQUIPMENT IN BEAUTY CLINICS, PAK PAI OPERATIONS, AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN DROWNED IN OPEN PITS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES.
AMONG OTHER TOPICS TO BE COVERED AT QUESTION TIME WILL BE LITTERING, ILLEGAL HAWKING AND TRAFFIC OFFENCES, SHORT-TERM PARK ING MÉTERS, AND THE LAND RESUMPTION PROGRAMME FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT.
FOUR OTHER BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED AND THEN READ A SECOND TIME: SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1982, DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BİLL 1982, CROWN LAND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, AND EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982. DEBATE ON THEM WILL BE ADJOURNED.
DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983. WHICH IS THEN EXPECTED TO BE READ A THIRD TIME.