XN000022-1988-11-16 — Page 49

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1988

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CONCERNING SOCIAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD TRIED TO IMRPOVE THE LEVEL AND RANGE OF BENEFITS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

"ONE MEASURE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT IN THIS THE FACT THAT EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SECURITY HAS INCREASED BILLION IN 1984/85 TO OVER $2.2 BILLION IN THIS CHAU SAID.

REGARD IS FROM $1.4 YEAR, MR

++ FINANCIAL

COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO VIETNAMESE PROBLEM SOUGHT

HONG KONG IS SEEKING A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION COVERS

TO

AN

THE PROBLEM INCREASE IN

OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND BOAT PEOPLE WHICH RESETTLEMENT QUOTAS, AN EXPANDED ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME, REPATRIATION AND THE RESETTLEMENT OF LONG STAYERS.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), IN THE RESUMED POLICY DEBATE.

MR BARNES SAID THAT ALL THESE ISSUES WERE NOW BRING ADDRESSED IN THE MULTILATERAL DISCUSSIONS LEADING TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR.

"WE ARE PARTICIPATING FULLY IN THESE MEETINGS, THE NEXT OF WHICH WILL BE IN KUALA LUMPUR IN DECEMBER," HE SAID.

MR BARNES SAID THAT THE SOLUTIONS то THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEM LAY OUTSIDE HONG KONG, AND FOR WHICH INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION WAS AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT.

HE SAID THAT NEARLY 18,000 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND BOAT PEOPLE HAD ARRIVED IN HONG KONG THIS YEAR, NONE OF WHOM WAS TURNED AWAY AND ALL WERE PROVIDED WITH TYPHOON-PROOF ACCOMODATION.

"WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH OURSELVES, AND THAT MUST BE WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF THE SCREENING POLICY INTRODUCED ON JUNE 16 AND ASSOCIATED PROCESSES OF REPATRIATION, RESETTLEMENT, AND LIBERALISATION OF THE FORMER CLOSED CAMPS.

ON THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT SHARED MEMBERS' RESETTLEMENT.

||

THE

THE

THE

RESETTLEMENT, MR BARNES SAID CONCERN ABOUT THE CURRENT RATE OF

THAT

THE OVERSEAS

/IN THE