XN000022-1989-10-04 — Page 8

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AMENDMENT BILL OK vpn pomn

*ESDAT, UCTOJ 4. 1989

AN AMENDMENT BILL WILL SOON BE INTRODUA E) INTO THE LEGISLATIVF COUNCIL AIMED AT ENABLING RULES TO BE DRAWN UP SPECIFICALLY ΤΟ VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE (VBP] DETENTION CENTRES,

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COVER

SUBJECT TO THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1989 BEINC HALED INTO LAW. RULES WILL BE MADE TO PROVIDE FOR THE TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF CONDUCT OF VBP IN DETENTION CENTRES.

THE PROPOSED RULES WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR THE MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE AMONG VBP IN DETENTION CENTRES. AND FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF OFFENDERS.

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS AGREED THAT THE AMENDMENT BILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 18.

"AT THE MOMENT, WHILE PROVISION EXISTS IN THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE FOR RULES TO BE MADE PERTAINING TO VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, NO SUCH PROVISION EXISTS IN RESPECT OF VBP," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY WEDNESDAY).

"THE CURRENT PRACTICE IS TO APPLY THE PRISON RULES IN VBP DETENTION CENTRES AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY.

"THE PRISON RULES DO NOT ALLOW FOR THE CONTROL OF CONDUCT OF VBP NOR DO THEY PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE IN THE CENTRES."

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WITH MORE THAN 42,000 VBP ARRIVALS SINCE JUNE LAST YEAR, A LARGE NUMBER OF DETENTION CENTRES ESTABLISHED MANY OF WHICH, BY FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCE, EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION RATHER THAN PURPOSE-BUILT CENTRES.

HAD BEEN

HAD BEEN

"GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF DETENTION CENTRES, NOW TOTALLING 16, AND THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY CAMP MANAGEMENT ARISING FROM SUCH ACTS AS ESCAPES AND THE INTRODUCTION OF ITEMS INTO THE CENTRES PARTICULARLY BY WAY OF THROWING, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DRAW UP RULES SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR DETENTION CENTRES,' HE SAID.

"FOR EXAMPLE. AFTER THE AMENDMENT BILL HAS PASSED INTO LAW, IT IS PROPOSED TO MAKE RULES WHICH PROVIDE FOR A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A $5,000 FINE AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES.

"THESE WILL

INCLUDE

THE

INTRODUCTION AND SUPPLY OF UNAUTHORISED ARTICLES INTO DETENTION CENTRES, ESCAPES AND AIDING OP ESCAPES FROM CENTRES, AS WELL AS ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO CENTRES.

"IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT RULES BE MADE TO PROVIDE FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SEPARATE CONFINEMENT OF PERSONS, THE SEARCHING OF DETAINEES AND VISITORS AND DETENTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEARCH, AS WELL AS THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH VISITORS MAY BE ALLOWED TO VISIT A DETENTION CENTRE AND THEIR CONDUCT.

"THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN RUNNING DETENTION CENTRES CONSIDER THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT LEGISLATION AND THE RULES TO BE MADE WILL MAKE MANAGEMENT OF CENTRES LESS DIFFICULT.“

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