XN000022-1986-01-08 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1986

AS REGARDS INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, MR THOMAS SAID THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY HAD TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST FEBRUARY THAT IF THOSE ARRIVING HERE WERE JUDGED TO BE ILLEGAL TRAVELLERS RATHER THAN GENUINE REFUGEES, THEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER IT A VIABLE OPTION TO RETURN THEM TO VIETNAM IN THE SAME WAY THAT ALL ILLEGAL TRAVELLERS WERE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

+HOWEVER, WE COULD ONLY DO THIS PROVIDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM WOULD ACCEPT THEM AND PROVIDED THAT WE COULD BE SATISFIED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE TREATED INHUMANELY ON THE IR RETURN,+ HE SAID.

+TO DATE THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT, WITH WHOM HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS CONTACT, HAS CONSIDERED REPATRIATION ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BUT HAS GIVEN NO INDICATION THAT IT WOULD BE PREPARED TO MEET EITHER OF THESE PROVISOS.

+WE DO NOT THINK, THEREFORE, THAT INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS FEASIBLE AT PRESENT, MR THOMAS ADDED.

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1 255 CHINESE VISITORS GRANTED HK STAY

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A TOTAL OF 2 735 PEOPLE OUT OF 129 785 VISITORS FROM CHINA HOLDING TWO-WAY PERMITS HAD APPLIED FOR PERMANENT STAY IN HONG KONG BETWEEN 1983 AND 1985, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN YING-LUN, MR THOMAS

SAID A TOTAL OF 1 255 APPLICATIONS WERE SUCCESSFUL.

+VIRTUALLY ALL WERE APPROVED ON THE GROUND THAT THE APPLICANT HAD A STATUTORY RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MAIN REASONS GIVEN IN THE IR APPLICATIONS FELL INTO TWO MAIN GROUPS.

THE FIRST COMPRISED STATUTORY CLAIMS TO RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG UNDER SECTION 8(1) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.

THESE INCLUDED THOSE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE HONG KONG BELONGER STATUS BY VIRTUE OF BEING BORN IN HONG KONG BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1983, BY DESCENT OR BY REGISTRATION UNDER RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE BRITISH NATIONALITY ACT 1981 AND OTHERS WHO CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS.

THE SECOND GROUP IS COMPASSIONATE, SUCH AS THE DESIRE TO JOIN HUSBANDS, WIVES, PARENTS, CHILDREN OR OTHER RELATIVES IN HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID.

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