XN000022-1987-12-02 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987

GREATER RESETTLEMENT ONLY CONTROL FOR REFUGEE PROBLEM : HUI

THAT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, BELIEVES GREATER RESETTLEment oveRSEAS IS THE ONLY WAY OF CONTROLLING THE LOCAL VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM, UNTIL A LASTING SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND TO STOP THE OUTFLOW OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM.

ANOTHER YEAR OF SECTION 18(3) IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AT THE (WEDNESDAY), MR HUI EXPRESSED

SUPPORTING THE EXTENSION FOR AND PARTS VIIA AND VIIB OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY CONCERN OVER THE INCREASING BURDEN ON HONG KONG TAXPAYERS, IN VIEW OF THE 54 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE RATE OF ARRIVAL, THE 44 PER CENT DECLINE IN RESETTLEMENT, AND THE 16 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE POPULATION REMAINING IN CAMPS, IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1986-87, THE TOTAL COST OF CARING FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN BOTH OPEN AND CLOSED CENTRES WAS $160.1 MILLION, THE BULK OF IT $122.7 MILLION WAS BORNE BY THE HONG KONG TAXPAYER, HE SAID.

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"IF WE ADD TO THAT THE COST OF THE EX-CHINA VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WE ARE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT A SUM OF MORE THAN $200 MILLION, SAID MR HUI.

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STRESSING THAT CARING FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE MUST NOW BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING ITEMS OF GOVERNMENT RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, MR HUI SAID THE FASTER IT GREW THE LESS THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO SPEND ON ITS MEDICAL, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS.

HE ALSO DREW ATTENTION TO THE INCREASING FRUSTRATION AND LACK OF MOTIVATION AMONG VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN HONG KONG, WITH THE DECLINING RATE OF OVERSEAS RESETTLEMENT.

.

'ALREADY SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE CAMPS ARE REPORTING A MARKEDLY INCREASED INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE FAMILY, AND HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE EROSION OF THE FAMILY UNIT AND DECLINE IN PARENTAL AUTHORITY CAUSED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL NATURE OF THE CAMPS, HE SAID.

PEOPLE

NOW

A

WERE

NOTING THAT THE

BOAT

COMING PREDOMINANTLY FARMERS AND FISHERMEN FROM NORTHERN VIETNAM AND WERE NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE CANDIDATES FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HAD LOST CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM AND MOTIVATION THROUGH YEARS OF CONFINEMENT IN CLOSED CAMPS, MR HUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN DANGER OF HAVING ON ITS HANDS REFUGEES WHO WERE INCAPABLE OF RESETTLEMENT AND WHO, WITH EVERY WASTED YEAR SPENT IN CLOSED CAMPS, WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED AND DESPERATE.

/HE REGRETTED