7
THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1994
"WE'VE
CAN
DEVISED RULES THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THESE CHILDREN APPLY FOR ONE-WAY PERMIT TO JOIN THEIR PARENTS HERE IN HONG KONG IN AN
FASHION ORDERLY
AND IN THIS WAY ENSURE
TREAT FVERYBODY EQUITABLY
Wh THAT
ACCEPT
ON HO-TAK'S CASE, MRS CHAN SAID THE GOVERNOR HAD LOOKED AT CASE HIMSELF BUT
TO DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NO GROUNDS APPEAL.
THE
THE
"IF
HAVE HAD
ACCEPTED THIS BOY TO STAY IN HONG KONG, WE
[T WOULD BE PATENTLY VERY UNFAIR TO THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CHILDREN THAT WE SENT BACK," SAID MRS CHAN, NOTING THAT SINCE 1991, THE GOVERNMENT SENT BACK SOME 2,200 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILDREN.
ON THE CHOICE OF SPLITTING HO-TAK'S FAMILY, MRS CHAN STRESSED THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT.
"THE MOTHER DECIDED IN 1988 TO LEAVE BEHIND THREE OF HER THE CHILDREN IN CHINA AND SINCE THEN, THE THREE CHILDREN INCLUDING
BY LITTLE BOY HAVE BEEN LOOKED AFTER BY HIS MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER AND HIS UNCLE AND AUNT, MRS CHAN SAID.
ון
"IT IS PERHAPS STRESSING THE FACT A LITTLE TOO FAR TO SUGGEST THAT THE BOY DOES NOT HAVE PROPER CARE.
"WE
HOPE THAT THE BOY WILL APPLY FOR A ONE-WAY PERMET IN THE USUAL WAY AND THAT VERY SOON, HE WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HIS PARENTS HERE IN HONG KONG, SHE ADDED.
1
SELF-INFLICTED CASES DRAW CONCERN
+
THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR) AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN EFFORTS ΤΟ DISSUADE THE VIETNAMESE IN THE WHITEHEAD DETENTION CENTRE FROM INFLICTING INJURIES ON THEMSELVES.
A CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SELF-INFLICTED INJURY CASES WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CENTRE OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
+
IN VIEW OF THE LARGE NUMBERS INVOLVED AND THE COMMUNAL STYLE LIVING IN THE CENTRE, IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PREVENT INDIVIDUALS FROM CARRYING OUT SUCH ACTS," HE SAID.
OF
HE ADDED THAT STAFF AT THE CENTRE HAD BEEN PLACED ON FULL ALERT AND WERE MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY.
THE DEPARTMENT HAD ASSIGNED ADDITIONAL TEAMS OF COUNSELLORS DRAWN FROM ITS AFTERCARE SECTION TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNICATION WITH THE
VIETNAMESE.
"WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS DANGEROUS FORM OF PROTEST WILL CEASE AND THAT LIFE IN THE CENTRE WILL RETURN TO NORMAL, HE ADDED.
11
AS AT 5 PM TODAY A FURTHER 11 CASES OF SELF-INFLICTED HAD BEEN REPORTED.
INJURIES
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