19
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985
SHE STRESSED THAT THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS STILL WITH US AND WE SHOULD NOT RELAX OUR EFFORTS IN PROSECUTING AND PUNISHING THOSE WHO PROFITED FROM TRANSPORTING ILLEGAL +HUMAN CARGOES+,
SHE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL THE DETERRENT EFFECTS OF THE PROVISIONS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND RECALLED THAT THEY WERE FIRST INTRODUCED AT A TIME WHEN THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING IN HONG KONG WAS CAUSING A SERIOUS THREAT TO OUR SECURITY AND A DRAIN ON OUR RESOURCES.
SHE SAID THESE MEASURES WERE NECESSARY TO DETER RACKETEERS FROM GIVING OR ARRANGING PASSAGES FOR UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS.
MISS TAM SAID THAT AN AD HOC GROUP FORMED UNDER THE CONVENERSHIP OF THE HON PETER C. WONG HAD CONCLUDED THAT HONG KONG MUST REMAIN RESOLVED IN STAMPING THE FLOW OF REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO THE TERRITORY.
THE AD HOC GROUP ALSO FELT THAT ALTHOUGH THESE MEASURES HAD TO SOME EXTENT PLACED THE BURDEN OF PROOF OF INNOCENCE ON THE DEFENDANTS, THEY WERE EFFECTIVE AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO ACT AS A STRONG DETERRENT TO ANY SHIP-OWNER, CREW, OR THE IR CO-CONSPIRATOR TO CARRY OR TO ARRANGE PASSAGES FOR REFUGEES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO HONG KONG, OR TO HELP THEM STAY, MISS TAM ADDED.
ACCEPTABLE STANDARD MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WELCOMED
* * * *
THE MOVE TO ENABLE THE HOLDER OF AN IRISH DIPLOMA, IRRESPECTIVE OF HIS NATIONALITY, TO REMAIN ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER IN HONG KONG RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG STRESSED THAT HE SUPPORTED IT BECAUSE THE IRISH DIPLOMA WAS OF AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD WHICH HAD ALL ALONG BEEN RECOGNISED AND MONITORED BY THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.
+WE SHOULD NOT AT THIS POINT AND AT THIS TIME FOLLOW STRICTLY THE POLICY OF THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL TO TAKE AWAY THE ELIGIBILITY OF A HOLDER OF A PREVIOUSLY RECOGNISED QUAL IF ICATION ON NATIONALITY GROUNDS BECAUSE WE CONSIDER THAT STANDARDS SHOULD BE OUR MAIN CONCERN, HE SAID.
+WE WELCOME DOCTORS WHO ARE OF AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD, + DR CHIU ADDED.
Page 20Page 21