TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1994
2
H
INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM TO VISIT BEIJING
HONG NOVEMBER ARRANGEMENTS INFRASTRUCTURE.
9
TO EXCHANGE
FOR
OFFICIALS VIEWS STRENGTHENING
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT A TEAM OF KONG GOVERNMENT
ON
WOULD BE WITH
LEAVING THE CHINESE CO-OPERATION
FOR BEIJING GOVERNMENT
ON
ON
CROSS-BORDER
THE CHINESE
AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED IN THE POLICY ADDRESS, SIDE HAS MADE SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY IN PLACE FOR CO-OPERATION ON CROSS-BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.
THE TEAM WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH THE CHINESE APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE THIS FORWARD.
AUTHORITIES THE
PLANNING,
DEPUTY
THE TEAM WILL BE LED BY MR TONY EASON, SECRETARY FOR
JOHN TELFORD, ENVIRONMENT. AND
OTHER MEMBERS ARE MR LANDS. SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR JOHN ASHTON, DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, STEPHEN LAM, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MARGARET
SECRETARY
AFFAIRS.
FONG,
PRINCIPAL
ASSISTANT
FOR
MR AND MISS CONSTITUTIONAL
0
VIETNAMESE SCREENING VIRTUALLY COMPLETED
* * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT REFUGEE STATUS DETERMINATION PROCEDURES, OR SCREENING, OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS IN HONG KONG HAD NOW VIRTUALLY BEEN COMPLETED. THERE ARE NOW ONLY A VERY FEW OUTSTANDING CASES.
WERE
THE SCREENING PROCEDURES, WHICH WERE INTRODUCED IN 1988, DESIGNED IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, THE SCREENING PRINCIPLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ENSHRINED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION.
THE SCREENING PROCESS WAS CONDUCTED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. A MIGRANT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL AGAINST A NEGATIVE DECISION TO THE REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW BOARD.
SINCE JUNE 1988, 71,700 VIETNAMESE HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG. OF THEM, 59,000 HAVE BEEN SCREENED; THE REMAINDER VOLUNTEERED TO RETURN ΤΟ VIETNAM BEFORE SCREENING; 6,700 WERE DETERMINED TO BE REFUGEES BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND 2,800 BY THE REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW BOARD. SCREENING HAS COST ABOUT $600 MILLION.
"WITH THE COMPLETION OF SCREENING, AN IMPORTANT CHAPTER OF THE BOAT PEOPLE SAGA HAS BEEN CLOSED," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
"OUR STATUS DETERMINATION PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN THOROUGH AND FAIR. THE PROCESS HAS INVOLVED HUNDREDS OF PERSONS AT THE INITIAL AND REVIEW STAGES, AND THEY HAVE DONE THEIR JOB CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND THOROUGHLY.
/"THE SCREENING