XN000022-1989-05-31 — Page 3

1

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31. 1989

OPERATION OF REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW BOARDS EXPLAINED

THE

ESTABLISHMENT

OF NEW REFUGEE STATUS

REVIEW

BOARDS

WILL

REFUGEE ASPREY.

ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCESS SOME 400 CASES A WEEK FROM VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE WHO OBJECT TO AN INITIAL DECISION TO REFUSE THEM STATUS. THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

OF

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE IMMIGRATION I AMENDMENT) (NO. 21 BILL 1989.

SAID SINCE MR ASPREY

THE IMPLMENTATION SCREENING IN JUNE 1988. MORE THAN 20,000 VIETNAMESE BOAT ARRIVED IN HONG KONG, WITH ONLY SOME 1,600 HAVING BEEN SCREENED.

"REFUGEE STATUS HAS BEEN GRANTED TO 165 PERSONS. THE HAVE BEEN REFUSED REFUGEE STATUS. HE SAID.

PEOPLE HAD

REMAINDER

BOAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECISION ΤΟ THE

UNDER THE LAW AS IT STANDS, VIETNAMESE BEEN REFUSED REFUGEE STATUS MAY OBJECT AGAINST THAT GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

"So FAR. ALL THOSE REFUSED REFUGEE STATUS HAVE LODGED

OBJECTIONS AGAINST THE DECISION.' MR ASPREY SAID.

TIME THAT THE HE NOTED THAT IT HAD BEEN APPARENT FOR SOME NUMBER AND

AND COMPLEXITY OF THE CASES MADE IT UNREASONABLE IMPRACTICAL FOR THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO BE INVOLVED IN OBJECTIONS.

UNTIL AND

WE CAN

DETERMINING

"MOREOVER, UNLESS

THE COMPLETE

TO SCREENING AND OBJECTION PROCESS, WE SHALL NOT BE ABLE REPATRIATION ON ANY ACCEPTABLE SCALE, HE SAID.

"THE

HAS, ADMINISTRATION

十月

THEREFORE, REVIEWED APPEAL

AIM OF SCREENING AND

PROCEDURES, WITH THE PROCESS WITHIN 12 MONTHS FOR ALL OUTSTANDING CASES AND FOR ALL NEW ARRIVALS.

ENTIRE ACHIEVE

THE PRESENT THE COMPLETING

THREE MONTHS

"THIS WILL REQUIRE COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS PERSONS PER WEEK.

"DEDICATED, FULL TIME REVIEW BOARDS ARE NECESSARY THIS OBJECTIVE," MR ASPREY SAID.

FOR 400

ΤΟ ACHIEVE

IN THE BILL PROVIDES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM VIETNAM TO HAVE,

IN COUNCIL PLACE OF THE PRESENT RIGHT OF OBJECTION TO THE GOVERNOR

APPLY TO UNDER SECTION 53 OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, A RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR CASE REVIEWED BY A REFUGEE STATUS REVIEW BOARD.

WILL

OF ALL THE IT IS

THAT THERE WILL BE ONE CHAIRMAN INTENDED BOARDS, AND HE. AS WELL AS THE DEPUTY CHAIRMEN AND OTHER MEMBERS BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

/MR ASPREY