TNAG-0877-FCO40-1087-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE PROVISION LY REGOLDTR

JNE TO TAKE.

9. THIS LEGISLATION IS ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLE

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H.K.G HAVE FOLLOWED IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF BOAT REFUGEES

FROM INDO-CHINA. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY MODIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT SHIPWRECK SURVIVORS RESCUED BY OCEAN-GOING VESSELS SHOULD BE LANDED AT THE FIRST SCHEDULED PORT OF CALL. HOWEVER, IT GIVES ADDITIONAL POWERS TO DEAL WITH OFFENCES WHICH MAY BE COMMITTED BY UNSCRUPULOUS RACKETEERS INVOLVED IN THE TRAFFIC OF

REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM.

10. THIS IS NOT EMERGENCY LEGISLATION. ALTHOUGH IT WAS INTRODUCED

AND PASSED VERY QUICKLY THIS WAS DONE AFTER CONSULATION WITH H.M.S WHO SUPPORT THE MOVES TAKEN BY THE H.K.G.

11. THE LEGISLATION WAS NOT INTRODUCED TO DEAL WITH THE SPECIFIC

PROBLEM OF THE "HUEY FONG''. THE H.K.G MAINTAINS ITS POSITION THAT THIS SHIP SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER HONG KONG BUT SHOULD PROCEED TO ITS NEXT PORT OF CALL, KAOHSIUNG IN TAIWAN.

12. IF ASKED WHETHER THE LEGISLATION MEANS THAT THE MASTER OF THE 'HUEY FONG' WOULD BE PROSECUTED IF HE ENTERED HONG KONG WATERS (AND IF THE REFUGEES ABCARD WOULD BE DETAINED) YOU SHOULD SAY THAT THE LEGISLATION COULD BE USED IN SUCH A CONTINGENCY SEMI-COLON. BUT THAT WHICH OF THE VARIOUS OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE H.K.G UNDER EXISTING AND NEW LEGISLATION WOULD BE ADOPTED IS A MATTER FOR DECISION BY THE H.K.G IN THE LIGHT OF SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENTS.

MACLEHOSE

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