XN000022-1991-05-08 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8. 1991

GRANTS WERE PROVIDED TO COVER TUITION FEES AND OTHER ACADEMIC EXPENSES WHILE LOANS WERE FOR LIVING EXPENSES, SHE SAID.

"THE SCHEME IS MEANS-TESTED BUT NOT SUBJECT TO ANY CASH LIMIT.

"THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ADJUSTED IN LIGHT OF INFLATION AND CHANGES IN FEE LEVEL," SHE ADDED.

THE

VISA NO GUARANTEE FOR ADMITTANCE

* * *

THE POSSESSION OF A VISA DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE VISITOR WILL DEFINITELY BE ADMITTED INTO HONG KONG, THE ACTING SECRETRAY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PANG CHUN-HOI, MR STRACHAN SAID VISAS DID NOT CONFER THE RIGHT TO LAND, NOR THE RIGHT OF ABODE.

THEREFORE, UNDER SECTION 11(1) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER MIGHT REFUSE A VISITOR LEAVE ΤΟ ENTER HONG' KONG, EVEN IF HE HELD A VISA, HE SAID,

"SUCH A VISITOR CAN, FOR EXAMPLE, BE REFUSED ADMISSION IF IT IS DISCOVERED THAT FALSE REPRESENTATIONS

EMPLOYED OR MATERIAL FACTS WERE CONCEALED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING THE VISA; OR THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES SINCE THE VISA WAS ISSUED WHICH REMOVED THE BASIS OF THE HOLDER'S CLAIM TO ADMISSION," HE SAID.

MR STRACHAN NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF VISITORS WHO HELD VISAS FOR HONG KONG BUT WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND WAS 575 IN 1988, 614 IN 1989, 305 LAST YEAR AND 94 SO FAR THIS YEAR.

HOWEVER, MR STRACHAN POINTED OUT THAT ANY PERSON AGGRIEVED BY A DECISION OF AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER MIGHT LODGE AN OBJECTION UNDER SECTION 53(1) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.

"IN THE CASE OF A VISITOR WITH A VISA FOR HONG KONG, THIS SHOULD BE BY NOTICE IN WRITING TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY WITHIN 14 DAYS," HE SAID.

THE OBJECTION WOULD THEN ВЕ CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WHO MIGHT VARY, REVERSE, OR COMPLETELY CHANGE THE ORIGINAL DECISION.

"HOWEVER, MAKING AN OBJECTION IN THIS WAY DOES NOT GIVE A VISITOR THE RIGHT TO REMAIN HERE PENDING A DECISION. THIS IS MADE CLEAR IN SECTION 53(7) OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, HE ADDED.

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