XN000022-1995-03-29 — Page 59

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Members raised the problem of foreign domestic helpers engaging in unauthorized work. This is one area where strengthening our Immigration Task Force can help us to make an impact. Last year, we investigated 345 cases, which led to the prosecution of 162 foreign domestic helpers and 38 employers. Convicted domestic helpers are usually fined; some are also sentenced to jail. In addition, they are returned to their home country. Employers convicted in these cases are also subject to the penalties of fine or imprisonment. I should emphasize that it is most important that members of the public help us bring these offenders to justice, by reporting cases or other relevant information.

Honourable Members also expressed concern about illegal immigrants and Two-way Permit visitors giving birth while in Hong Kong. The real solution, however, lies in prevention at source. We have raised this with the Chinese side, most recently at the Border Liaison Annual Review.

Vietnamese Migrants

I turn now to the problem of Vietnamese Migrants. The Government is mindful of the debt owed to the community by the UNHCR. Whenever the opportunity arises, we remind the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of the outstanding amount. The UNHCR, of course, relies on donations from the international community for its resources. At the Sixth mecting of the Steering Committee of the International Conference on Indochinese Refugees held in Geneva on 16 March, the UNICR once again appealed to the international community for funds for its programmes under the Comprehensive Plan of Action (CPA). The statement adopted by the Conference made a specific reference to the amount owed to Hong Kong, and called upon donor countries to contribute to the Hong Kong programme.

Some Honourable Members also referred to the need to live up to the agreements reached at the Geneva Conference. Mr President. let me take this opportunity to recap briefly on the outcome of that conference.

At Geneva, the participating countries re-affirmed that all non-refugees must return to Vietnam, and that the process of returning them should be expedited. The end of 1995 was set as the target for closing all the camps but, recognizing that Hong Kong now holds about half of the Vietnamese migrant population in the region, it was also agreed that the target date for closing camps in Hong Kong should be shortly after the end of 1995. As part of this objective, the Vietnamese Government has also agreed to simplify the procedures for clearing the migrants for return.