20
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1992
"THE SHIPS AND OTHER PROPERTY FORFEITURE, MR ASPREY SAID.
**
INVOLVED ARE LIABLE TO
HE SAID THESE TWO PARTS HAD ALSO BEEN RE-ENACTED ANNUALLY AND WOULD EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31 UNLESS EXTENDED.
"I
ASPREY SAID.
BELIEVE THAT THESE PROVISIONS ARE STILL NECESSARY, MR
11
HE SAID IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, ONLY 12 ASYLUM-SEEKERS FROM VIETNAM HAD COME TO HONG KONG.
THE
WAS
IN
OVER THE SAME PERIOD THE NUMBER RETURNING TO VIETNAM UNDER ORDERLY RETURN PROGRAMME AND THE UNHCR'S VOLUNTARY PROGRAMME AVERAGE OVER 1,000 A MONTH.
BUT IT WILL BE SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME BEFORE ALL MIGRANTS, WHOM THERE REMAIN OVER 43,000, ARE REPATRIATED, HE SAID,
THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO RETAIN SECTION 18(3),
OF
MR ASPREY SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA ALSO REMAINED A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, THERE WERE 32,427 ARRESTS: NEARLY 40 PER CENT UP ON THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
HE SAID THE MAIN CAUSE HAD BEEN THE
ILLUSION OF JOBS ON THE NEW AIRPORT SITE AND OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS, ENCOURAGED AS ALWAYS BY DELIBERATE MISREPRESENTATION AND FALSE RUMOURS SPREAD "SNAKEHEADS" WHO TRAFFICKED IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
BY THE
"IT IS NECESSARY TO RETAIN STRONG SANCTIONS PROVIDED BY PARTS VIIA AND VIIB OF THE ORDINANCE AGAINST THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN THIS TRADE, MR ASPREY SAID.
MOTION ON HOUSING SUBSIDY POLICY PASSED
THE LEGISLATIVE
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COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION URGING THE REVOCATION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S HOUSING SUBSIDY POLICY AFTER A TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR DEBATE AT ITS WEEKLY MEETING.
TWENTY-FOUR MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE MOTION PROPOSED BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT. THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, REPLIED FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
IN ADDITION, 18 MEMBERS SPOKE IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE ECONOMIC STABILITY AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG.
THE DEBATE WAS RAISED BY THE HON MARTIN LEE. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, WINDED UP THE DEBATE.
/ALSO PASSED