WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988
- 15
IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE SAFEGUARDS EXTENDED FOR FURTHER YEAR
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE WHICH HELP THE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WERE EXTENDED BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
OF
UNDER THE MOTION, MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SECTION 18 (3) AND PARTS VIIA AND VIIB
THE ORDINANCE WERE EXTENDED FOR A FURTHER YEAR, AND WOULD NOW EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31 NEXT YEAR.
MR BARNES SAID HONG KONG COULD NOT AFFORD TO BE COMPLACENT, AND THERE WAS A CLEAR NEED TO RETAIN THE SAFEGUARDS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT SECTION 18(3) WAS FIRST ENACTED 1979 TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF REFUGEES.
IN JANUARY VIETNAMESE
"IT REMOVES THE LIMIT OF TWO MONTHS DURING WHICH AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER MAY REMOVE A PERSON REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND IN HONG KONG, IF IT APPEARS TO THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION THAT THAT PERSON WAS PREVIOUSLY RESIDENT IN VIETNAM, HE SAID.
THIS SUBSECTION HAD BEEN RE-ENACTED ANNUALLY.
PARTS VIIA AND VIIB OF THE ORDINANCE WERE ENACTED IN AUGUST 1979 TO PROVIDE FOR MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF TRAFFICKING IN UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION, HE SAID.
UNDER THESE PROVISIONS, ANY PERSON WHO AIDED IMMIGRANTS TO ENTER HONG KONG COMMITTED AN OFFENCE.
++
ILLEGAL
OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE UP TO $5 MILLION IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE, WHILE THE SHIPS AND OTHER PROPERTY INVOLVED ARE LIABLE TO FORFEITURE, HE SAID.
AND
THESE TWO PARTS HAD ALSO BEEN RE-ENACTED ANNUALLY.
MR BARNES SAID THE NECESSITY FOR
UNFORTUNATELY ONLY TOO CLEAR.
THE PROVISIONS WAS
"OUR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PROBLEMS ARE STILL WITH US. THERE HAS BEEN A LARGE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR," HE SAID.
"IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE ARRIVED, CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1987.
THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 17,802 COMPARED WITH 3.117 IN THE
"ALTHOUGH THE