XN000022-1981-05-07 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1981

STRICT MEASURES PROPOSED TO DEAL WITH VR'S REFUSING

RESETTLEMENT OFFERS

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VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG WAITING FOR PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS WILL RISK DETENTION AND BEING BANNED FROM WORKING HERE IF THEY REFUSE OFFERS OF RESETTLEMENT.

AND THOSE WHO DO NOT COMPLY WITH RULES IN TEMPORARY TRANSIT CENTRES OPERATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR), WILL FACE FINES AS WELL AS CONFINEMENT,

THESE PROPOSED MEASURES ARE CONTAINED IN THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED IN TOMORROW'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE BILL, WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 13, IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR CONDITIONS OF STAY FOR PROPER CONTROL OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES DURING THE IR TEMPORARY STAY HERE.

THE CONDITIONS OF STAY PROVIDE THAT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES

* SHALL NOT WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE FAIL OR REFUSE TO

ACCEPT AN OFFER OF OVERSEAS RESETTLEMENT=

* MUST NOT WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE FAIL OR REFUSE TO

SURRENDER THE IR VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARD, WHEN REQUIRED=

* MUST RESIDE IN SPECIFIED REFUGEE CENTRES AND COMPLY WITH

CENTRE RULES- AND

* MUST ABIDE BY OTHER CONDITIONS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT,

SETTING UP OF BUSINESS AND ENROLMENT IN ANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.

UNDER THE BILL, A BREACH OF ANY CONDITION OF STAY WILL RENDER A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE LIABLE TO BE CONFINED FOR UP TO 28 DAYS. FAILURE TO OBSERVE RULES IN THE TEMPORARY TRANSIT CENTRES WILL RESULT IN A FINE OF $100 OR CONFINEMENT FOR SEVEN DAYS.

IN THE CASE OF A REFUSAL TO ACCEPT AN OFFER OF RESETTLEMENT, A RENEWED OFFER MAY BE MADE AFTER THE 28 DAYS OF CONFINEMENT AND IF THIS TOO WAS REFUSED A FURTHER WARRANT OF DETENTION MAY BE ISSUED.

COMMENTING ON THE MEASURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE UNHCR HAD BEEN CONSULTED AND SUPPORTED THEM.

HE STRESSED THAT HONG KONG STILL REGARDED THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AS AN INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT THOSE STILL HERE WERE ACCEPTED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS ONLY, PENDING THE IR PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS.

+THE RATE OF OFF-TAKE OF REFUGEES DEPENDS VERY MUCH ON THE GOODWILL AND COOPERATION OF MANY OVERSEAS COUNTRIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

/+HOWEVER, RECENTLY