WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1990
20
BOAT PEOPLE SUBJECT TO LAWS OF HK
* * * *
DURING THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE'S STAY IN HONG KONG THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF HONG KONG IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ELSIE TU, MR BARNES SAID THAT THEIR CONDUCT IN THE DETENTION CENTRES WAS ALSO SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS PROVIDED BY THE IMMIGRATION (VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE) (DETENTION CENTRE) RULES 1989 MADE UNDER SECTION 13H OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.
"IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR PREVIOUS BACKGROUND, ANY HELD AT DETENTION CENTRES OR REFUGEES CAMPS WHO ARE HAVING COMMITTED AN OFFENCE UNDER HONG KONG LAW WILL THE POLICE FOR INVESTIGATION AND DEALT WITH THROUGH OF LAW.
BOAT PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF
BE
REFERRED TO
THE
DUE PROCESS
"IF CONVICTED AND GIVEN CUSTODIAL SENTENCES, SUCH PERSONS BE SENT TO PRISON, HE SAID.
WILL
AT PRESENT, THERE WAS NO RELIABLE WAY OF IDENTIFYING BOAT PEOPLE IN DETENTION CENTRES AND REFUGEES CAMPS WHO WERE KNOWN, OR ALLEGED, TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AND WANTED FOR SERIOUS CRIMES IN VIETNAM, MR BARNES POINTED OUT.
"CRIMINAL RECORDS FROM VIETNAM ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE 13 NO MEANS OF VERIFYING THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OR VALIDITY OF ANSWERS GIVEN BY BOAT PEOPLE DURING THEIR SCREENING INTERVIEWS.
"A NUMBER OF OFFENCES, HOWEVER, ARR SOMETIMES ADMITTED AND STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO CHECK ON THE DETAILS AND NATURE OF THESE IN RELATION ΤΟ THE CONDUCT OF THOSE CONCERNED IN THE DETENTION CENTRES, HE SAID.
MR BARNES SAID THAT ANY BOAT PEOPLE IN DETENTION CENTRES WHO WERE FOUND TO HAVE INFRINGED THE DETENTION CENTRE RULES WOULD BE DEALT WITH UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THOSE RULES.
"SECTION 37(1) OF THE RULES EMPOWERS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF A CENTRE TO ORDER A DETAINEE WHO COMMITS ANY OFFENCE AGAINST DISCIPLINE TO BE PUNISHED BY SEPARATE CONFINEMENT.
"THE PURPOSE OF SEPARATE CONFINEMENT IS TO DISCIPLINE THE OFFENDER AND TO PREVENT HIM OR HER FROM CONTINUING TO CAUSE TROUBLE OR INTIMIDATING OTHER BOAT PEOPLE AS WELL AS STAFF AT THE CENTRE.
"SEPARATE CONFINEMENT CAN TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE SAME CENTRE IN PURPOSE-BUILT SEGREGATION UNITS OR IN UNITS IN OTHER CENTRES.' HE
SAID.
ΤΟ REINFORCE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY то DEAL WITH OFFENDERS THROUGH SEPARATE CONFINEMENT, MR BARNES SAID THAT CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE PROVISION OF SEPARATE ACCOMMODATION AND ADDITIONAL SEGREGATION SPACES.
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