XN000022-1987-12-02 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987

MOTION TO EXTEND IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE PROVISIONS

THERE HAS BEEN A 54 PER CENT INCREASE IN ARRIVALS OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM THIS YEAR, AND, IN ADDITION ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA ALSO REMAINS A PROBLEM, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF 3,119 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARRIVED, COMPARED WITH 2,026 IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1986, HE SAID.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 18,564 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WERE ARRESTED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HONG KONG, AND A FURTHER 3,432 WHO HAD EVADED SECURITY FORCES AT THE BORDER WERE ARRESTED SUBSEQUENTLY. THESE FIGURES COMPARED WITH 14,028 AND 2,969 RESPECTIVELY FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.

MR JEAFFRESON CITED THE FIGURES WHEN MOVING A MOTION, WHICH WAS PASSED, TO EXTEND SECTION 18(3) AND PARTS VIIA AND VIIB OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE FOR A FURTHER YEAR FROM DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR.

HE EXPLAINED THAT SECTION 18(3) WAS FIRST ENACTED IN JANUARY 1979 TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.

IT REMOVED THE LIMIT OF TWO MONTHS DURING WHICH AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER MIGHT REMOVE A PERSON REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND IN HONG KONG, IF IT APPEARED TO THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION THAT THAT PERSON WAS PREVIOUSLY RESIDENT IN VIETNAM. THE SUBSECTION HAD BEEN RE-ENACTED ANNUALLY,

PARTS VIIA AND VIIB OF THE ORDINANCE WERE ENACTED IN AUGUST 1979 TO PROVIDE FOR MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF TRAFFICKING IN UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

"UNDER THESE PROVISIONS, ANY PERSON WHO AIDS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO ENTER HONG KONG COMMITS AN OFFENCE. OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE UP TO $5 MILLION AND IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE, WHILE THE SHIPS AND OTHER PROPERTY INVOLVED ARE LIABLE TO FORFEITURE," HE SAID.

MR JEAFFRESON SAID IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY ONLY TOO CLEAR WHY THESE PROVISIONS WERE STILL NEEDED, SAYING, "OUR VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEMS ARE STILL WITH US.

HE SAID: "RESETTLEMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG HAS DECLINED DRASTICALLY, BY SOME 44 PER CENT COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR.

"AS A RESULT, OUR PRESENT REFUGEE POPULATION IS 14 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IT WAS WHEN I MOVED THE RETENTION OF SECTION 18(3) LAST YEAR. AND THE PROSPECTS FOR NEXT YEAR AS FAR CONCERNED ARE NOT GOOD."

AS RESETTLEMENT IS

/MR JEAFFERESON