WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1986
IN ADDITION, MR THOMAS SAID HE WOULD BE MOVING AN AMENDMENT IN COMMITTEE TO DELETE A PROVISION OF THE BILL WHICH PROVIDES A STATUTORY RIGHT OF APPEAL AGAINST A COMPENSATION ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR AS IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE.
ANOTHER OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL SOUGHT TO EXTEND THE BENEFITS OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WELFARE FUND TO CIVILIAN MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
THESE BENEFITS INCLUDED CLUB FACILITIES.
HARDSHIP GRANTS
TO OFFICERS AND FAMILIES, LOANS FOR WELFARE PURPOSED AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
THE THIRD OBJECTIVE SOUGHT TO AMEND THE SEVENTH SCHEDULE OF THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF RECENT CHANGES IN THE CIVILIAN ESTABLISHMENT.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
REPATRIATION OF VR'S NOT FEASIBLE ******
OUT OF THE 110 000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO HAVE COME TO HONG KONG SINCE 1975, 22 HAVE ASKED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM AND AMONG THEM ONLY 14 HAVE ACTUALLY RETURNED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR THOMAS SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) HAD BEEN AWAITING A REPLY FROM THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT SINCE 1983 ON WHETHER IT WAS PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE REMAINING EIGHT.
IN VIEW OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE RETURNED TO VIETNAM, MR THOMAS SAID THE GOVERNMENT DOUBTED WHETHER VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION ON A LARGE SCALE WAS LIKELY TO BE FEASIBLE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD NO DIPLOMATIC STATUS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AND SUCH NEGOTIATIONS COULD ONLY BE INITIATED THROUGH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
HE ADDED THAT THE GENERAL SITUATION WAS THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION WERE UNDERTAKEN BY THE UNHCR WHICH REGARDED VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AS THE MOST DESIRABLE SOLUTION TO REFUGEE PROBLEMS.
A.
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1. GARDE