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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1989
MR HO HAD ASKED WHETHER A PERSON WAS PERMITTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO HIS PERSONAL RECORDS KEPT BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND HE CITED A RECENT CASE OF A MAN ON WHOM THE POLICE HAD KEPT AN ERRONEOUS CRIMINAL RECORD.
MR LIAO SAID THIS HAD BEEN AN UNUSUAL AND UNIQUE CASE CAUSED BY HUMAN ERROR.
CONSULTATION NOT REQUIRED
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSULT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) OR THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON PROCEDURES CONCERNING BIRTHS AND DEATHS OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON NGAI SHIU-KIT, MR BARNES EXPLAINED THAT THESE PROCEDURES WERE CONDUCTED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE.
RECORDS OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS OF BOAT PEOPLE WERE KEPT BY THE BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES REGISTRY SUB-DIVISION OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.
"THE BIRTHS NORMALLY TAKE PLACE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS. CHILDREN BORN TO VIETNAMESE PARENTS WITH REFUGEE STATUS ARE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG, UNDER SECTION 13A (1) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE. AS REFUGEES PENDING RESETTLEMENT WITH THEIR PARENTS.
"THE STATUS OF CHILDREN BORN TO VIETNAMESE PARENTS WHO HAVE YET TO BE SCREENED DEPENDS UPON THE ULTIMATE DETERMINATION OF THE IR PARENTS AS REFUGEES OR NON-REFUGEES.
"MEANWHILE, THEY ARE COVERED BY 'SECTION 13D(1) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE. HE SAID.
"
MR BARNES SAID CHILDREN BORN TO VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE PARENTS WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES DID NOT HAVE REFUGEE STATUS.
THEIR PARENTS MIGHT, HOWEVER, APPLY ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD TO THE REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW BOARD FOR A REVIEW OF THE DECISION WITHIN 28 DAYS OF RECEIVING THE NOTICE OF DETERMINATION.
ALL DEATHS OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. INCLUDING HOMICIDE AND NATURAL DEATHS. WERE REFERRED TO THE CORONER FOR A DECISION ON THE NEED FOR AN INQUEST.
"WHERE NECESSARY