XN000022-1980-01-11 — Page 9

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1980

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REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980

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AMENDMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE TO ENABLE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE FOR THE EXCLUSION OF PERSONS FROM REGISTRATION AND THE PROVISION OF IDENTITY CARDS.

A BILL SEEKING TO EFFECT THIS THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 - IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S (FRIDAY'S) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (JANUARY 16).

IF PASSED IT WAS THE INTENTION THAT REGULATIONS WOULD BE MADE TO EXCLUDE ALL PERSONS PREVIOUSLY RESIDENT IN VIETNAM WHO ARE PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG AS REFUGEES PENDING RESETTLEMENT ELSEWHERE, FROM THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF REGISTERING FOR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS.

THE REFUGEES, HE EXPLAINED, HAD BEEN ADMITTED TO HONG KONG ONL Y FOR TEMPORARY STAY PENDING THEIR RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS BY THE UNHCR. NONE HAD IN FACT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE.

+THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS COMPREHENSIVE RECORDS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS, OF ALL VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG. IN ADDITION, THE CAMP MANAGEMENTS ALSO ISSUE REFUGEES WITH LOCAL CAMP IDENTITY PAPERS, HE SAID.

+THE EXCLUSION OF THIS CATEGORY OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM THE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE ORDINANCE WILL NOT, THEREFORE, LESSEN GOVERNMENT CONTROL, HE SAID.

TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR COLLECTING PA PAYMENT VOUCHERS

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT SUSPENSION OF REGISTERED MAIL SERVICE, IS MAKING TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS TO COLLECT THE IR CASH ORDER BOOKS FROM ITS 26 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) CASH ORDER BOOKS WERE VOUCHERS FOR CASHING PAYMENTS AND WERE NORMALLY MAILED TO THE RECIPIENTS BY REGISTRATION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WITH THE SUSPENSION OF REGISTERED MA IL SERVICE, THE DEPARTMENT HAD TO MAKE OTHER PRACTICABLE ARRANGEMENTS IN ORDER THAT THE RECIPIENTS MIGHT NOT SUFFER UNDUE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

HE SAID THOSE RECIPIENTS WHO WERE DUE TO RECEIVE THEIR CASH ORDER BOOKS WERE NOW ASKED TO COLLECT THEM OR MAKE ENQUIRIES AT THE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS LOCATED IN THEIR DISTRICT.

/AT THE