CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 11010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 698
OF 10152OZ APRIL 91
CONFIDENTIAL
HKC24.1/4
17 2 1991
VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS: IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE
1
48
070251
MDHOAN 1408
TOP COPY Q DIST?
far for 1/4
45
1. MINISTERS HAVE AGREED THAT YOU SHOULD AMEND THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR TELNO 1025. MINISTERS HAVE HOWEVER FURTHER COMMENTED THAT:
(A) WE SHOULD PURSUE THE IDEA OF AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO REVIEW TRANSFERS IN DISCIPLINARY CASES (WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN TELECON BARRETT/LEEKS AND THAT THE IDEA IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU). WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FURTHER THOUGHTS:
(B) THAT OUR POLICY SHOULD BE TO KEEP DETENTION BEFORE SCREENING TO A MAXIMUM OF TWO YEARS AND THAT YOU SHOULD MAKE AVAILABLE APPROPRIATE FURTHER RESOURCES AS NECESSARY TO MEET THIS TARGET. GRATEFUL TO KNOW HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT ON THE CURRENT SITUATION.
2.
WE SHOULD ALSO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE VIEW EXPRESSED BY THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL IN 1983 THAT YOU SHOULD ADOPT ARRANGEMENTS FOR FREQUENT REVIEW OF YOUR LEGISLATION SO THAT ADJUSTMENTS TO BRING IT CLOSER TO CONFORMITY WITH THE ICCPR CAN BE MADE AS SOON AS CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT. THIS WOULD ALSO ENABLE REGULAR CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO THE LEGISLATION'S REPEAL WHEN IT IS NO LONGER ESSENTIAL. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON HOW YOU MIGHT REPORT TO US ON SUCH A REVIEW.
3. GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE POINTS. MEANWHILE WE HOPE YOU CAN PROCEED WITH YOUR PROPOSED TIMETABLE OF SUBMITTING THE DRAFT BILL TO EXCO ON 16 APRIL. GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHEN THE BILL WOULD BE GAZETTED AND PUT TO LEGCO.
HURD
YYYY
PAGE 1 CONFIDENTIAL
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