XN000022-1982-11-24 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1962

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HOWEVER HE SAID +CONSULTATION DOES NOT AND CANNOT MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST NOT MOVE WITHOUT A COMPLETE IDENTITY OF VIEWS WITH THE ORGANISATIONS CONSULTED, BECAUSE AS BOTH DR FANG AND MISS TAM HAVE EMPHASIZED, IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH,

+ IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS IT IS THE GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL HAVE TO TAKE A VIEW AS TO WHAT IS BEST IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.+

FINALLY, MR HO SAID, THE ADMINISTRATION WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO GIVE ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN NEW PROPOSALS, AND PROVISION WOULD BE INCLUDED SO THAT THE CONTROLS ON ERUCID ACID WOULD NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1, 1985.

MEASURES TO COMBAT 11'S AND VR'S EXTENDED

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THE LIFE OF SPECIAL IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE PROVISIONS AIMED AT COMBATTING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

THESE PROVISIONS RELATE TO TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 MILLION AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT AS WELL AS FORTFEITURE OF VESSELS INVOLVED IN THE CONVEYING OF UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS, MAKE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES SUBJECT TO REMOVAL FROM HONG KONG AT ANY TIME, AND PROVIDE FOR FORFEITURE OF VESSELS CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS.

MOTIONS TO RETAIN THEM FOR 1983 WERE ADOPTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

STRESSING THE NEED FOR THE FURTHER YEAR'S EXTENSION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD COUNCIL THAT THE PROBLEMS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL

IMMIGRANTS WERE STILL WITH US. BUT HE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE PERMANENT.

THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, HE SAID, HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST TEN MONTHS AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

UP TO THE END OF OCTOBER 1982, 6 896 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAD BEEN CAPTURED TRYING TO ENTER HONG KONG AND 2 018 EVADERS HAD BEEN ARRESTED WITHIN HONG KONG ITSELF.

AS REGARDS VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, 7 741 HAD ARRIVED SO FAR THIS YEAR, 3 466 OF WHOM HAD REACHED HONG KONG SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CLOSED CENTRES POLICY ON JULY 2.

LAST YEAR, 8 470 ARRIVED BY BOAT DIRECT FROM VIETNAM COMPARED WITH 6 788 DURING 1980.