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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988
SIR S.Y. CHUNG WELCOMES VR POLICY CHANGE
THE SENIOR MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMED THE CHANGE OF POLICY TOWARDS VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG.
"THIS IS A MAJOR STEP IN ELIMINATING THE DOUBLE STANDARDS PRACTISED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN DEALING WITH ILLEGAL ENTRIES FROM CHINA AND VIETNAM," HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT, WHEN ILLEGAL ENTRANTS FROM CHINA ARE INTERCEPTED, THEY ARE HANDCUFFED AND PUT INTO A DETENTION CENTRE, PENDING IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION.
BUT WHEN ILLEGAL ENTRANTS FROM VIETNAM ARE DISCOVERED, THEY ARE TAKEN ASHORE, EXAMINED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL, FED, HOUSED AND PROVIDED WITH EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
"MOREOVER, HONG KONG MAKES GREAT EFFORTS IN GETTING THEM RESETTLED IN WESTERN COUNTRIES," HE ADDED.
"IN FACT,'
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SIR S.Y. SAID, "THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG TODAY ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA IN THAT THE VAST MAJORITY LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY SIMPLY FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, I.E. IN SEARCH OF A HIGHER MATERIAL STANDARD OF LIVING. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT GENUINE REFUGEES WHO ARE LIABLE TO PER-SECUTION BY THEIR GOVERNMENT ON POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS OR ETHNIC GROUNDS.'
"IT IS, THEREFORE, ONLY RIGHT THAT THEY BE TREATED ON ARRIVAL AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,
ri HE SAID.
"NONETHELESS, WE ARE INTRODUCING A SCREENING PROCESS TO ALLOW ANY GENUINE CASES TO CLAIM REFUGEE STATUS, HE ADDED.
SIR S.Y. DESCRIBED THE NEW MEASURE AS BEING FAIR.
"HONG KONG CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO TREAT AUTOMATICALLY EVERY SINGLE VIETNAMESE ARRIVING HERE BY BOAT AS A 'REFUGEE', HE SAID.
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MEANWHILE, SIR S.Y. HAS RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, INFORMING OMELCO MEMBERS THAT HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ENDORSED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW POLICY.
IN HIS MESSAGE, SIR GEOFFREY SAID THAT THIS HAD RESULTED FROM HIS DISCUSSION OF THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEM WITH HIS CABINET COLLEAGUES SOON AFTER HIS RECENT VISIT TO HONG KONG.
/SIR GEOFFREY
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