XN000022-1979-02-14 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979

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RESETTLEMENT OFFERS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

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RESETTLEMENT OFFERS FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES USUALLY TAKE THE FORM OF A QUOTA, SOMETIMES FOR THE REGION AND SOMETIMES FOR HONG KONG ALONE, AND FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD.

IN THE CASE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, THERE IS AN ONGOING PROGRAMME FOR RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM THE REGION, INCLUDING HONG KONG.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. LYDIA DUNN.

MR. DAVIES ADDED: +FIRM OFFERS OF RESETTLEMENT ARE ONLY MADE TO INDIVIDUALS ONCE PROCESSING, SPONSORSHIP AND SO ON HAS BEEN ARRANGED.+

+BEARING THESE POINTS IN MIND, THERE ARE 2,340 QUOTA PLACES ON OFFER TO BE FILLED THIS YEAR OR, IN THE CASE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, AN OFFER UP TO MARCH 31, 1980.+

IN ADDITION, MR. DAVIES SAID 6,000 REFUGEES SHOULD BE RESETTLED UNDER THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME THIS YEAR.

SINCE JANUARY 1, AND UP TO FEBRUARY 12, 462 REFUGEES HAVE DEPARTED - 357 TO THE USA- 60 TO GERMANY- 25 TO CANADA 18 TO NORWAY AND TWO TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THIRTY HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAVE STEPPED UP MEASURES TO IDENTIFY VESSELS BEFORE ENTERING HONG KONG WITH A VIEW TO PREVENTING ANY CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS FROM ENTERING WITHOUT AUTHORITY.

+THE ROYAL NAVY, THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND THE MARINE POLICE ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED ON THIS TASK, HE ADDED.

EXPLAINING HOW THE SHIP SKY LUCK ENTERED HONG KONG UNDETECTED ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 6, MR. DAVIES HAD THIS TO SAY:

+ALL SHIPS HAD BEEN ADVISED AT FOUR-HOURLY INTERVALS BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THEIR SHIP BEFORE ENTERING HONG KONG WATERS.

+THE SKY LUCK DID NOT DO SO, NOR DID IT TRANSMIT ANY OTHER MESSAGE TO THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, HE STRESSED.

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