XN000022-1979-07-18 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1979

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WORKING REFUGEES SHOULD PAY FOR FOOD

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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO CONTINUE PROVIDING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO ARE WORKING WITH FREE FOOD AT PUBLIC EXPENSE.

+SUCH ASSISTANCE IS ALREADY BEING REDUCED,+ HE SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN.

MR. DAVIES SAID: +IT IS THE POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, AFTER AN INITIAL PERIOD OF ABOUT TWO WEEKS IN (OPEN CAMPS), REFUGEES SHOULD BEGIN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COSTS OF THEIR OWN CARE AND MAINTENANCE.

+ON THIS BASIS A PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES FOR WHOM RATIONS ARE PROVIDED IN THIS TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION HAS ALREADY COMMENCED. IT WILL CONTINUE TO THE POINT WHERE RATIONS ARE GIVEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES OR WHOSE CIRCUMSTANCES JUSTIFY IT.+

MR. DAVIES ALSO SAID THAT A SCHEME FOR THE RECOVERY OF RENT WAS NOT BEING RULED OUT BUT AS YET NO SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE SCHEME HAD BEEN EVOLVED.

THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS ARE THAT ALL REFUGEES ON ARRIVAL REMAIN IN THE IR BOATS WHILST THEY ARE PROCESSED. THEREAFTER ACCOMMODATION IS ARRANGED FOR THEM ASHORE.

THE FIRST ACCOMMODATION IS INVARIABLY IN THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD. AFTER A PERIOD OF ABOUT A FORTNIGHT THERE, THEY ARE MOVED INTO OPEN CAMPS OR OTHER FLATTED ACCOMMODATION. DURING ALL THESE PERIODS THEY RECIEVE FREE FOOD.

SKYLUCK SEIZED UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE

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THE REFUGEE SHIP +SKYLUCK+ HAS BEEN SEIZED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID T.K. WONG IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. WÒNG LAM.

HE SAID THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, WHO WOULD BE PUBLICISING THE SEIZURE IN THE GAZETTE, WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DISPOSE OF THE VESSEL UNTIL A REASONABLE PERIOD HAD BEEN ALLOWED FOR THE LODGING OF POSSIBLE CLAIMS.

MR. WONG SAID THE SEIZURE WAS MADE BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE VESSEL'S OWNER TO A DIRECTION MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF MAINE UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE.

ANDER TE