TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1989
MOST VBP SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES ARE MIGRANTS
WHO ARE SCREENED
BOARD
THE VAST MAJORITY OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE OUT AS NON-REFUGEES AND WHO APPEAL TO THE REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW ARE MIGRANTS AND IN MOST CASES OBVIOUS MIGRANTS.
BLACKWELL.
THE BOARD'S CHAIRMAN. MR FRANCIS (TUESDAY) WHEN HE REVIEWED THE WORK OF THE BOARD SET TO STREAMLINE THE APPEAL PROCEDURES.
SAID THIS TODAY UP IN MID-JUNE
"REAL
THE FORMER DISTRICT COURT JUDGE TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE: REFUGEES ARE HARD TO FIND: LIES ARE LEGION FOR MANY MIGRANTS POSE REFUGEES AND TRY TO DECEIVE NOT ONLY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION. ALSO THE BOARD.
"WHATEVER THE CASE. THE BOARD CONSIDERS EACH APPEAL WITH CARE. AND THERE IS FREQUENTLY MUCH ARGUMENT AND AGONISING BEFORE DECISIONS ARE REACHED.
IS "HOWEVER. ONCE A DECISION IS REACHED, IT AND THERE IS NO APPEAL OR REVIEW THEREFROM.
AS
BUT
GREAT
MANY
ABSOLUTELY FINAL
BOARD CAN HAVE
SUCH AN
THE "IT IS BECAUSE THE DECISION OF ENORMOUS EFFECT UPON THE LIVES OF THE APPLICANTS AND IN MANY CASES THE
THAT THE GREATEST LIVES OF THEIR IMMEDIATE DEPEDANTS. TAKEN TO ENSURE THE DECISION REACHED IS THE PROPER ONE,
OF CARE IS
"I AM
HAPPY ΤΟ SAY
GOVERNMENT TRIED IN
WAY ANY
THAT AT NO TIME HAS THE
KONG HONG TO INFLUENCE THE BOARD AS ΤΟ WHAT
DECISION IT SHOULD MAKE.
"THIS ATTITUDE
OF OUR GOVERNMENT
GREATLY REFLECTS
TO ITS THOSE WHO RESPECT THE VIETNAMESE
CREDIT NOT ONLY IN THE EYES OF ITS OWN PEOPLE AND AND UPHOLD JUSTICE. BUT THIS IS NOW BEING REALISED BY BOAT PEOPLE THEMSELVES."
OF
ΤΟ
MR BLACKWELL SAID THAT STANDING AS IT WERE ON THE SIDELINES
HOW MUCH UNFAIR THE POLITICAL ISSUES INVOLVED. HE REGRETTED TO NOTE AND UNWARRANTED CRITICISM WAS LEVELLED AT THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TRY AND SOLVE THE CURRENT MIGRATION PROBLEM.
THOSE WHO FOR OF SITUATION BUT KONG OVER-GENEROUS HAVING LIKE PONTIUS HAVE LEFT THE BILL
"SUCH CRITICISM UNFORTUNATELY OFTEN COMES FROM
KNOW THE TRUTH REASONS BEST KNOWN TO THEMSELVES CHOOSE TO DISTORT IT: FROM THOSE WHO COME TO HONG WITH CRITICISM AND IRRESPONSIBLE SUGGESTIONS. PILATE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE MATTER SOME 14 YEARS AGO. THE POOR HONG KONG AND BRITISH TAXPAYERS TO PICK UP AND PAY WITH VERY LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING REIMBURSED PERHAPS IN PART." HE ADDED.
IN FULL
OR
EVEN
MR BLACKWELL NOTED THAT ON ITS FORMATION, SOME REFERRED TO REVIEW BOARD AS A FACELESS BODY AND A KANGAROO COURT.
THE
"I HOPE