XN000022-1992-08-27 — Page 12

LAST 12 MONTHS

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

RE-EXPORTS

TOTAL EXPORTS

IMPORTS

TRADE BALANCE

1

11

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1992

AUG 91 TO

AUG 90 TO

INCREASE

JUL 92

HK$ MN

JUL 91 HKS MN

HK$ MN

%

233,264

231,031

2,233

1.0

623,234

476,329

146,905

30.8

856,498

707,360

149,138

21.1

878,291

724,521

153,770

21.2

-21,793

-17,161

-4,632

POLICY ON EX-CHINESE VIET ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS EXPLAINED

EX-CHINESE VIETNAMESE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS {ECVIIS) WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RESETTLED IN CHINA BEFORE THEY CAME TO HONG KONG ARE REPATRIATED TO CHINA UPON CONFIRMATION OF THEIR PREVIOUS RESIDENCY CHINA, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

IN

"THESE PEOPLE HAVE SOUGHT AND OBTAINED ASYLUM IN CHINA, HAVE RESETTLED THERE, AND ARE CHINESE RESIDENTS. IF THEY SUBSEQUENTLY ENTERED HONG KONG, THEIR STATUS IS NO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA, MR ASPREY EXPLAINED.

MR ASPREY SAID A MARRIAGE BETWEEN AN ECVII AND A VIETNAMESE NON-REFUGEE DID NOT PROVIDE THEM WITH A RIGHT TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG. THE ECVII WOULD HAVE TO BE REPATRIATED TO CHINA AND THE VIETNAMESE NON-REFUGEE WOULD HAVE TO RETURN TO VIETNAM.

'PRIOR TO ANY MARRIAGE BETWEEN AN ECVII AND A VIETNAMESE MIGRANT, THE GOVERNMENT INVARIABLY EXPLAINS THE POSITION TO THEM, AND THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THEIR LIKELY SEPARATION UPON RETURNING ΤΟ CHINA OR VIETNAM.

"IT IS SADDENING TO SEE FAMILIES BEING BROKEN UP AND WIVES BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR HUSBANDS. HOWEVER, A REPATRIATED WIFE OR HUSBAND CAN APPLY THROUGH NORMAL PROCEDURES IN CHINA TO REJOIN THEIR SPOUSE IN VIETNAM OR VICE VERSA, HE SAID.,

"

HE ADDED THAT THE UNHCR WAS WILLING TO HELP IN SUCH CASES AND TO SEE IF ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE FOR HUSBAND AND WIFE TO REUNITE.

/12