XN000022-1984-07-05 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1994

VR HUNGER STRIKE ENDS

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THE HUNGER STRIKE PROTEST, BEGUN BY THE MAJORITY OF THE REFUGEES AT THE HEI LING CHAU CLOSED CENTRE ON JULY 2, 1934, HAS NOW ENDED, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN SIGNS YESTERDAY THAT MOST REFUGEES AT THE CENTRE WISHED 10 END THEIR PROTEST AND RESUME EATING. HOWEVER, THEY HAD BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING SO BY A RELATIVELY SMALL GROUP WHO WERE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE THE PROTEST.

IN VIEW OF THIS UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION, EARLY THIS MORNING THE GOVERNMENT MADE PREPARATIONS TO INTERVENE WITH ADEQUATE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES MANPOWER TO SEPARATE THE RING-LEADERS FROM THE REST OF THE CENTRE POPULATION AND THUS END INTIMIDATION IN THE CENTRE. IN THE LIGHT OF THESE VISIBILE PREPARATIONS, AND FOLLOWING AN APPEAL FROM THE CHARGE DE MISSION OF THE UNHCR, MRS DOLORES LASAN, TO ALL REFUGEES IN THE CENTRE TO COOPERATE BY ENDING THEIR PROTEST, THE REFUGEE REPRESENTATIVES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AGREED TO CONCLUDE THE STRIKE. AS A RESULT, THE CENTRE POPULATION ATE AN EARLY DINNER WHICH THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUPPLIED TO THEM AT 5 PM.

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THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE LATEST SITUATION WAS THAT CONDITIONS IN THE CLOSED CENTRE NOW APPEARED

TO HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL.

IMMIGRATION SERVICE FEES RAISED *****

FEES CHARGED FOR A NUMBER OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ARE TO BE INCREASED.

THE REVISIONS ARE MADE ON THE BASIS OF A REVIEW MENTIONED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE NEW FEES WILL APPLY TO APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON OR AFTER JULY 6, 1984.

THE OLD FEES WILL BE CHARGED FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BEFORE THIS DATE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE FEES HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1975 OR 1976 AND THAT EVEN WITH THE INCREASES, THE NEW FEES WOULD ONLY RECOVER ABOUT 83 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES.

/FUECILIRNICA...

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