THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1989
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NO AMNESTY FOR II'S FROM CHINA: S FOR S
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR GEOFFREY BARNES, HAS THAT THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR PEOPLE ENTERING HONG KONG FROM CHINA.
REITERATED ILLEGALLY
"WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FIRM ON THIS,' HE SAID, WHEN ADDRESSING REPORTERS DURING A TOUR OF THE BORDER AREA THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.
HE SAID GOVERNMENT'S RECENT DECISION TO RELAX THE CRITERIA FOR THE IMPORTATION OF SKILLED LABOUR, INCLUDING THOSE FROM CHINA, DID NOT MEAN ANY SLACKENING OF EFFORTS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
DURING THE TOUR TO THE BORDER AREA
MR BARNES LOOKED AT THE EXPANDED METAL MESH ERECTED TO THWART ATTEMPTS BY WOULD-BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO CUT THROUGH THE BORDER FENCE AND AT A DISPLAY OF IMPROVED ALARM SYSTEMS.
THE SECURITY FORCES WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THEIR UTMOST TO PREVENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM COMING, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT HAD DROPPED FROM OVER 100 A DAY LAST YEAR TO ABOUT 36 DAILY THIS YEAR AS A RESULT OF THE PROSECUTION POLICY.
ON THE CONTINUED INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM, MR BARNES SAID IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT то TAKE STRONGER STEPS TO CONTROL AND PREVENT ITS PEOPLE LEAVING THE COUNTRY.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE POSTPONEMENT OF YESTERDAY'S FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING WHICH WAS TO BE ASKED TO APPROVE FUNDS FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, MR BARNES SAID: "I AM SURE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMB AND I AM SURE EVENTUALLY WE WILL GET THE NECESSARY SUPPORT FROM THEM.
"I
COMMENTING ON THE USE OF FERRIES FOR HOLDING VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT HAVE TO USE FERRIES WHEN NECESSARY.
"THEY ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AND THOROUGHLY UNPLEASANT PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO STAY ON. BUT IF PEOPLE COME TO HONG KONG AS UNWELCOME AND UNEXPECTED GUESTS THEY CAN'T EXPECT ANYTHING BETTER, HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT A GREAT DEAL THAT HONG KONG ITSELF BOAT COULD DO BEFORE THE FORTHCOMING MEETING IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS THE PEOPLE PROBLEM.
ON EX-CHINA VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, MR BARNES STRESSED THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ALLOWING THEM TO STAY IN HONG KONG.
HE PRAISED THE BRITISH GARRISON FOR DOING A "FIRST CLASS JOB" ON THE BORDER IN CURBING THE INFLOW OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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