XN000022-1991-12-18 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1991

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PROVISIONS EXTENDED TO TACKLE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS PROBLEM

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR IAN STRACHAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) MOVED A MOTION UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

THE MOTION SEEKS TO EXTEND SECTION 18(3) AND PARTS VIIB OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH HAVE BEEN RE-ENACTED ANNUALLY EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR, FOR A FURTHER YEAR.

VIIA AND AND WILL

MOVING THE MOTION, MR STRACHAN EXPLAINED THAT SECTION 18(3) THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN JANUARY 1979 TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE ASYLUM-SEEKERS.

"IT, REMOVES THE LIMIT OF TWO MONTHS DURING WHICH IMMIGRATION OFFICER MAY REMOVE A PERSON REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND HONG KONG, IF IT APPEARS TO THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION PERSON WAS PREVIOUSLY RESIDENT IN VIETNAM, HE SAID.

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HE SAID THEY SANCTIONS

REGARDING PARTS VIIA AND VIIB OF THE ORDINANCE, WERE ENACTED IN AUGUST 1979 то PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

UNDER THESE PROVISIONS, ANY PERSON WHO AIDS ILLEGAL TO ENTER HONG KONG COMMITS AN OFFENCE.

IMMIGRANTS

$5

MILLION

OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE UP TO AND IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE, WHILE THE SHIPS AND OTHER PROPERTY INVOLVED ARE LIABLE TO FORFEITURE.

MR STRACHAN SAID THE CONCLUSION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH VIETNAM WHICH ALLOWED THE REPATRIATION OF SCREENED- OUT VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS HAD PUT IN PLACE THE FINAL PIECE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION FOR ASYLUM-SEEKERS FROM VIETNAM.

"WE CAN AT LAST SEE A CLEAR WAY AHEAD ΤΟ SOLVING THIS LONG-STANDING PROBLEM.

"BY SCREENING NEW ARRIVALS AS SOON AS THEY COME ΤΟ HONG KONG AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNING THE SCREENED-OUT TO VIETNAM, WE HOPE TO DISCOURAGE AND STOP THE OUTFLOW OF NON-REFUGEES.

"HOWEVER, THIS PROCESS TAKES TIME. EVEN ASSUMING NO OR VERY FEW NEW ARRIVALS, IT IS LIKELY TO TAKE SOME THREE YEARS TO REPATRIATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NON-REFUGEES.

"WE, THEREFORE, NEED TO RETAIN SECTION 18(3) TO GIVE OURSELVES AND THE UNHCR TIME TO MAKE REPATRIATION WORK, MR STRACHAN SAID.

LLI

HE ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT MUST MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CHINESE TO RETURN AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALL THOSE VIETNAMESE, OF WHOM THERE WERE NOW 145 IN HONG KONG, WHO HAD COME HERE AFTER PREVIOUSLY BRING SETTLED IN CHINA.

/"WE AIM