لنا
3
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1992
—
"I WILL PUT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION NOT ONLY INFLATION - WHICH IS A PROBLEM OF IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY CONCERN BUT ALSO OTHER LONG-TERM KEY ECONOMIC ISSUES SUCH AS THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STRUCTURAL CHANGE OF OUR ECONOMY AND HOW TO FACILITATE HIGHER GROWTH."
UNDER ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE COMMITTEE WILL ADVISE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ON ANY MATTERS AFFECTING THE ECONOMY THAT HE MAY REFER TO IT.
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY
30.
NORMAL ARRANGEMENTS ON DEPORTING CRIMINALS EXTENDED TO VIETNAM
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT FOLLOWING THE RESUMPTION OF AIR SERVICE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND VIETNAM, THE GOVERNMENT'S NORMAL POLICY OF DEPORTING CRIMINAL OFFENDERS OWN COUNTRIES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE VIETNAM.
TO THEIR
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS NORMAL INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE FOR CRIMINALS CONVICTED OF SERIOUS OFFENCES TO BE DEPORTED TO THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN AFTER SERVING THEIR
SENTENCES.
CONVICTED
"HONG KONG'S POLICY IS TO DEPORT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OF OFFENCES PUNISHABLE WITH A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF TWO YEARS OR MORE," HE SAID.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POLICY, HONG KONG DEPORTED 242 SUCH PEOPLE TO 25 COUNTRIES LAST YEAR.
"NOW THAT DIRECT FLIGHTS TO VIETNAM HAVE RESUMED AFTER A BREAK OVER 16 YEARS, THERE IS NO REASON WHY VIETNAM SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THESE ARRANGEMENTS," HE SAID.
OF
THE FIRST SUCH DEPORTATION ORDER AGAINST A VIETNAMESE OFFENDER WAS BEING CARRIED OUT TODAY, HE ADDED.
CRIMINAL
HE EMPHASISED THAT ONLY CRIMINAL OFFENDERS WHO HAD BEEN SCREENED OUT AS NON-REFUGEES WOULD BE DEPORTED TO VIETNAM.
"AS IS THE CASE WITH OTHER CATEGORIES OF VIETNAMESE RETURNEES 1 DEPORTERS WILL BE RETURNED ΤΟ VIETNAM WITH GUARANTEES OF NON- DISCRIMINATION AND NON-PROSECUTION FOR THEIR ACT OF LEAVING VIETNAM CLANDESTINELY AND WITH THE BENEFIT OF UNHCR MONITORING OF THEIR TREATMENT AFTER RETURN, HE SAID.
Tt
/4