XN000022-1994-08-05 — Page 6

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1994

SPECIAL REINTEGRATION ALLOWANCE FOR VM'S

*

THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO PAY A SPECIAL ALLOWANCE US$150 (ABOUT HK$1,200) TO ALL VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS WHO VOLUNTEER RETURN TO VIETNAM BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, A GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).

OF

ΤΟ

SPOKESMAN

"THE ALLOWANCE IS BEING PAID AS A MEASURE TO BOOST THE VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT ITS INTRODUCTION WILL ENCOURAGE THE VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS TO GO HOME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE COST OF THE ALLOWANCE WILL BE FUNDED BY THE BRITISH

GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE UK GOVERNMENT FOR ASSISTING US THIS WAY," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN

THE SPECIAL ALLOWANCE WILL BE PAYABLE ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR UNHCR REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE, THAT IS, THOSE WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG BEFORE SEPTEMBER 27, 1991. THUS, NEW ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THESE ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS.

IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THE UNHCR HAVE AGREED TO DISBURSE THE ALLOWANCE TO THE MIGRANTS PRIOR то THEIR DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE RECENT REPORT INTO THE EVENTS IN WHITEHEAD ON APRIL 7 HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER HOW THE INCENTIVES FOR VOLUNTARY RETURN COULD BE IMPROVED.

"WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE PAYMENT OF THE SPECIAL ALLOWANCE IS A CONCRETE WAY OF TAKING FORWARD THIS SUGGESTION," HE SAID.

"WE APPEAL TO ALL THE SCREENED-OUT VIETNAMESE IN THE DETENTION CENTRES TO AVAIL OF THIS OFFER OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND TO GIVE URGENT CONSIDERATION TO RETURNING HOME. THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR THEM IN HONG KONG.

"THIS ALLOWANCE IS A ONE-OFF MEASURE TO ASSIST THE VIETNAMESE WITH THEIR REINTEGRATION IN VIETNAM. IT WILL ONLY BE PAYABLE TO THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED.

0

REO APPEALS TO ELECTORS TO UPDATE PARTICULARS

* * * * *

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL OFFICE (REO) TODAY (FRIDAY) APPEALED TO ALL ELECTORS TO INFORM THE OFFICE IF THEY HAD CHANGED THEIR ADDRESS OR OTHER PERSONAL PARTICULARS.

EXTENT,

"THE ACCURACY OF THE REGISTER OF ELECTORS, TO A LARGE DEPENDS ON THE CO-OPERATION OF ELECTORS ΤΟ REPORT CHANGES OF PARTICULARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

11

HE SAID THE REO ALSO UNDERTOOK MATCHING OF RECORDS WITH THOSE MAINTAINED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE TO UPDATE ELECTORS' PARTICULARS.

/THE SPOKESMAN