HONDAE, FROGANE 29, 1991
GOVT TO PRESS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF INT'L PLAN FOR VBP
THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, TODAY (MONDAY) REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE (VBP) PROBLEM 19 ΤΟ PRESS FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION AGREED INTERNATIONALLY IN 1989.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD), SIR DAVID SAID RESOLVING THE VBP PROBLEM WAS PROVING A PAINFULLY SLOW PROCESS, BUT IT WAS ONE THE GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED TO OVERCOME.
"FOR IT IS OUR CONVICTION THAT ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR REFUGEE STATUS MUST RETURN TO VIETNAM, HE STRESSED.
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SIR DAVID SAID THIS WAS THE ONLY PRACTICAL SOLUTION IN TODAY'S WORLD IN WHICH DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WERE BECOMING INCREASINGLY RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT POOR MIGRANTS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
"THOSE WHO SAY ANYTHING DIFFERENT TO ECONOMIC VIETNAM ARE MISLEADING THEM CRUELLY, HE SAID.
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MIGRANTS FROM
NOTING THAT CARE AND WELFARE FOR THE BOAT PEOPLE HAD BEEN A DIFFICULT ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT, SIR DAVID PRAISED THE CSD OFFICERS FOR THEIR COMMENDABLE PATIENCE, DISCIPLINE AND PROFESSIONALISM IN LOOKING AFTER THE BOAT PEOPLE.
ON THE DEPARTMENT'S MANY OTHER IMPORTANT AND LESS WELL- PUBLICISED RESPONSIBILITIES ARISING FROM THE CARE OF OFFENDERS, SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THESE DUTIES INVOLVED MAINTAINING A DIFFICULT BALANCE BETWEEN DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTION ON THE ONE HAND; AND TRAINING AND REHABILITATION ON THE OTHER.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN THE BALANCE, UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS, HE SAID.
"HONG KONG'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE ORDERLY, SECURE AND
DISCIPLINED.
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**THIS HAS BEEN MAINTAINED DESPITE OVER-CROWDING CAUSED BY THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AT PRESENT IN CUSTODY, SIR DAVID SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HOPED THIS PROBLEM WOULD DECLINE NOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN FURTHER MEASURES TO DISCOURAGE THE EMPLOYMENT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE THESE PROBLEMS, MORE AND MORE HAD BEEN DONE TO PREPARE INMATES FOR THEIR EVENTUAL RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY.
LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER 300 INMATES TOOK PUBLIC RXAMINATIONS AND THE NUMBER WAS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
/IN ADDITION.