XN000022-1975-06-06 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1975

H.K.'S HANDLING OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES PRAISED

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THE CANADIAN COMMISSIONER IN HONG KONG, MR. M.G. CLARK TODAY CONGRATULATED HONG KONG FOR THE WAY IT HAD RESPONDED TO THE SUDDEN INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES LAST MONTH.

+THE SPEED, THE EFFICIENCY, AND THE HUMANITY WITH WHICH HONG KONG RESPONDED TO THIS UNUSUAL CHALLENGE HAS RIGHTLY EARNED VIDESPREAD ADMIRATION,+ HE TOLD GRADUATING IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AT THEIR PASSING-OUT PARADE IN HAPPY VALLEY THIS MORNING.

MR. CLARK ALSO EXPRESSED HIS APPRECIATION TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR PERFORMING SUCH A VALIANT JOB IN HELPING TO RECEIVE AND CARE FOR THE 4,000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES,

+ THE WAY IN WHICH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAS SUCCEEDED IN MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF THE SUDDEN INFLUX OF PEOPLE FROM VIETNAM AND IN CARRYING ON WITH ITS NORMAL WORK OF HANDLING 40,000 PEOPLE A DAY, TESTIFIES TO THE QUALITY OF THE TRAINING AND ESPRIT- DE-CORPS OF ALL OFFICERS FROM THE MOST JUNIOR TO THE MOST SENIOR, HE SAID.

SPEAKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, MR. CLARK TOLD THE GRADUATING OFFICERS THAT THEIR WORK WOULD OFTEN BE DIFFICULT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE ASSURED THEM THAT THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OF BUILDING A FASCINATING CAREER.

IMMIGRATION WORK, HE SAID, CALLED FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF TECHNICAL COMPETENCE, AN UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OVER LARGE PARTS OF THE WORLD THE ABILITY AND A TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE - OFTEN IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES TALENT FOR ARRIVING AT FAIR DECISIONS QUICKLY AND COURTEOUSLY.

HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE DEMANDING COURSE THE GRADUATES HAD JUST COMPLETED HAD PREPARED THEM WELL FOR THE CHALLENGING TASK AHEAD.

NOTE TO EDITORS.

COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. CLARK'S SPEECH ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE G.I.S. NEWS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

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