XN000022-1982-06-30 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1982

FLOOD OF REFUGEES FEARED

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THERE WAS A VERY REAL DANGER THAT, IN THE FACE OF GREATLY REDUCED RESETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HONG KONG, WITH ITS OPEN CAMPS FOR REFUGEES, WOULD BECOME THE MAIN DESTINATION FOR THOSE WHO WERE SEEKING TO LEAVE VIETNAM, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES, SAID TODAY.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN MOVING THE SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WHICH PROVIDES THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE NECESSARY POWERS TO SET UP CLOSED CAMPS, TO DETAIN VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THEM AND TO DRAW UP RULES FOR THEIR GOOD MANAGEMENT.

THE BILL, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE POWER TO REPATRIATE ANY REFUGEE IF AND WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, WAS PASSED INTO LAW WITH AMENDMENTS, IN ONE SITTING TODAY, WITH THE FULL SUPPORT OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.

+ INDEED, SOME MAY BE MISLED INTO BELIEVING THAT HONG KONG ITSELF MAY BE A LIKELY PLACE OF PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT, HE SAID.

TO UNDERLINE THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE, MR DAVIES SAID, THE BILL MADE IT CLEAR THAT REFUGEES COULD NOT GAIN CHINESE RESIDENT STATUS.

HE SAID THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES COMING INTO THE REGION AS A WHOLE IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 1982 AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1981 HAD DROPPED FROM 39 500 TO 21 200, ABOUT 46 PER CENT, WHILE THE NUMBER COMING TO HONG KONG HAD ONLY DROPPED FROM 3 500 TO 3 200 OR 8.6 PER CENT - THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE FALL IN THE REGION.

+THESE FIGURES INDICATE THAT SOME POSITIVE CHANGES MUST BE MADE TO REDUCE THE 'PULL' OF HONG KONG AS A DESTINATION, MR DAVIES SAID.

IN ADOPTING THE CLOSED CAMP POLICY, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS BRINGING HONG KONG INTO LINE WITH THE REST OF THE REGION.

+THIS MOVE SHOULD MAKE HONG KONG LESS ATTRACTIVE FOR REFUGEES. WHEN THE MESSAGE GETS BACK TO VIETNAM, IT SHOULD HELP TO DETER PEOPLE FROM SETTING OUT. +

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