XN000022-1985-07-16 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1985

GOVT STANDS FIRM ON +BOAT WIVES+ ISSUE

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THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, IS STANDING BY ITS DECISION NOT TO PERMIT THE 14 BOAT DWELLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WIVES IN YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT AFTER VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERING ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT HAD BEEN DECIDED AGAIN TO REQUEST THE WIVES TO RETURN TO CHINA AND APPLY FOR ONE-WAY PERMITS TO CROSS THE BORDER.

AS A RESULT OF THIS MORNING'S DECISION LETTERS WERE BEING SENT TO THE 14 WIVES ADVISING THEM TO RETURN TO CHINA VOLUNTARILY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: IF THE LADIES DO NOT RETURN VOLUNTARILY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WILL HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO ISSUE REMOVAL ORDERS AGAINST THEM.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, IF THE WIVES DID LEAVE VOLUNTARILY THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE REPRÉSENTATIONS TO THE NEW CHINA NEWS AGENCY FOR THE EARLY ISSUE BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES OF ONE-WAY PERMITS.

THE 14 BOAT SQUATTER WIVES HAD ARGUED FOR PERMISSION TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG ON THE BASIS THAT:

* THEIR HUSBANDS WERE FISHERMEN;

* THE IR REMOVAL WOULD RESULT IN THE BREAKUP

OF FAMILIES;

* THEY DID NOT KNOW THE WIVES WOULD NO LONGER HAVE PERMISSION TO STAY ON THE IR BOATS ONCE THEIR HUSBANDS CEASED TO BE FISHERMEN; AND

* THE WIVES WOULD HAVE NOWHERE TO GO IN CHINA BECAUSE THE IR HOUSEHOLD REGISTRATION HAD BEEN CANCELLED.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE HUSBANDS OF THE WOMEN WERE NOT WORKING AS FISHERMEN DUALLY REGISTERED IN HONG KONG AND CHINA AND, THEREFORE, THEY DID NOT QUALIFY FOR PERMISSION TO REMAIN ON BOATS AS DO THE WIVES OF GENUINE FISHERMEN.

HE SAID: THE WIVES OF FORMER FISHERMEN OR HONG KONG RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED BETTER THAN GENUINE FISHERMEN'S WIVES AND BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN HERE. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON GENUINE FISHERMEN'S WIVES IS WELL KNOWN TO THE FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS.+

/THIS COULD