XN000022-1979-08-01 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1979

IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL

UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED

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THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL, AIMED AT ENABLING MORE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO PREVENT AND TO PENALISE TRAFFICKING IN UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION, WAS PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS BEFORE THE BILL WAS PASSED, THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG SAID THAT, IN GIVING SUPPORT TO THE BILL, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS UNDERSCORED THE NEED FOR HONG KONG

ITSELF TO DO ITS UTMOST TO SUPPRESS ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN REFUGEES, AND TO PROVIDE THE COURTS WITH PENAL SANCTIONS THAT COULD BE INFLICTED ON THOSE CONVICTED OF PARTICIPATING IN SUCH TRAFFIC.

+A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 MILLION AND A POTENTIAL SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT WILL BE RECOGNISED AS A MARK OF THIS COUNCIL'S DETERMINATION TO BE SEVERE, HE SAID.

MR. CHEUNG SAID UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE SATISFIED THAT THERE WERE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT DESPITE THE HARD LINE TAKEN BY THE BILL.

+MOREOVER, COMPENSATION WILL BE PAYABLE WHERE SHIPS OR OTHER PROPERTY HAVE BEEN WRONGLY SUSPENDED OR SEIZED, EVENTS WHICH CAN HAPPEN WHEN ACTION IS RESOLUTE AND SOMETIMES HAS TO BE TAKEN IN EMERGENCY- IT DEMONSTRATES THAT THE PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE BY GOVERNMENT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, MR. CHEUNG SAID, THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE BILL WHICH INHIBITED IN ANY WAY THE RIGHT AND DUTY OF CAPTAINS OF SHIPS TO PLUCK THOSE IN DISTRESS ON THE HIGH SEAS, AND GIVE THEM SUCCOUR.

MR. CHEUNG SAID UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HOPED THESE EMERGENCY MEASURES WOULD NO LONGER BE NECESSARY WHEN THEY EXPIRED IN DECEMBER NEXT YEAR, ADDING THAT IF SUCH PROVISIONS SHOULD STILL BE NEEDED, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD NOT HESITATE TO EXTEND THEM.

MR. CHEUNG ALSO PRAISED THE STRENUOUS EFFORTS MADE BY

HM GOVERNMENT IN RECENT MONTHS TO DEFLECT THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT FROM ITS POLICIES AND TO GALVANISE THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD INTO ACTION TO GRANT RESETTLEMENT TO REFUGEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE HAVING ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED BY HONG KONG.

+WE WISH ALSO TO PLACE ON RECORD OUR ADMIRATION AND THANKS FOR THE LEADING PART THAT YOU, SIR (THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE), HAVE TAKEN IN ALL THESE EVENTS.

+WE WOULD ALSO WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE WITH GRATITUDE THE STEPS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS IMPLEMENTED, VERY EFFECTIVELY, TO STOP THE FLOW OF UNAUTHORISED PERSONS CROSSING THE BORDER AND ON TO OUR SHORES, MR. CHEUNG SAID.

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