XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 39

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

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VR REPATRIATION REMAINS LONG-TERM AIM

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S LONG-TERM AIM IS TO REPATRIATE TO VIETNAM ALL NEW ARRIVALS WHO AFTER SCREENING CANNOT ESTABLISH THAT THEY ARE REFUGESS IN TERMS OF THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED DEFINITION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SELINA CHOW, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT HOWEVER THE GOVERNMENT MUST FIRST BE SATISFIED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE TREATED INHUMANELY ON THEIR RETURN TO VIETNAM.

REGARDING THE POSITION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON THE ISSUE, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IT WAS AS STATED BY MR RENTON IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON JANUARY 21 WHEN HE SAID:

+WE ARE CONSULTING OTHER MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND THE UNHCR TO SEE WHAT CAN FURTHER BE DONE AT PRESENT ....... REPATRIATION FROM HONG KONG COULD TAKE PLACE ONLY WHEN WE AND OTHER MAJOR RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES ARE MUCH MORE CONVINCED THAN WE ARE NOW ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, HUMAN RIGHTS IN VIETNAM, AND HOW SUCH MIGRANTS WOULD BE TREATED AND LOOKED AFTER IF THEY WENT BACK TO VIETNAM.+

POLICE COVERAGE ADEQUATE AT CRIME-PRONE AREAS

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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WAS SATISFIED THAT THE POLICE COVERAGE WAS AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL WHERE RECENT ROBBERY INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE LANDMARK IN CENTRAL AND REGENT ARCADE IN KOWLOON, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG PO-YAN, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IN ALL AREAS WITH A CONCENTRATION OF HIGH SERIOUS CRIME RISK PREMISES, POLICEMEN PATROLLING IN UNIFORM WERE SUPPORTED BY OFFICERS IN PLAIN CLOTHES AND BY SPECIAL HIGH-RISK AREA PATROLS.

HE ADDED THAT FREQUENT VISITS WERE ALSO MADE BY MOBILE UNITS IN HIGH-RISK AREAS.

+TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY IN HIGH-RISK PREMISES, THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU IS ALWAYS READY TO GIVE OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS ADVICE ON HOW IT MIGHT BE IMPROVED. CRIME PREVENTION OFFICERS VISIT THE PREMISES AND ADVISE ON IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEY VISIT THE PREMISES AGAIN LATER TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEIR ADVICE IS BEING FOLLOWED, + HE SAID.

/MR JEAFFRESON