(BCTV) - A leader of B.C.'s Chinese Canadian community is calling for a fundamental shift in this country's policy on the smuggling of illegal migrants. Experts are predicting that this recent wave of migrants coming over in containers on cargo ships isn't likely to stop anytime soon. And so a Chinese community leader says it's time we started re-directing our efforts to the source of the problem.

Harvey Oberfeld, reporting: "A dozen one week, 21 the next...Four hundred and ninety three boat people have been intercepted by Canadian officials since last February and most placed in detention pending their hearings. The cost so far : $10 million. It is money that some believe is misdirected."

Victor Wong, Assn. of Chinese Cdns spokesman: "What we should be doing is putting our resources into locating and identifying the people smugglers who live here. Ten million dollars would fund 200 more Customs officials in the port that could be made available."

Hedy Fry MP, Multiculturalism Minister: "That is either/or ... I think we have to do both in conjunction with other countries."

Harvey Oberfeld, reporting: "In Seattle, Tuesday, 19 stowaways were found in a container aboard the Hanjin Yokohama, just a day after 18 more - three of them dead - were found on another container ship the Cape May, also in Seattle...part of a growing worldwide people-smuggling problem."

Hedy Fry MP, Multiculturalism Minister: "We're talking about an international smuggling organization with feet in every country. We have the strictest rules and retribution here...$500,000 or 10 years in jail."

Victor Wong, Assn. of Chinese Cdns spokesman: "There have been no arrests. Not only no convictions...We need to focus on the real criminals, the smugglers, and we should put all our resources into identifying and arresting those people."

Anchor reads: "Of the four hundred and ninety three migrants applying for refugee status in Canada, a hundred and fifty three have had their cases adjudicated to date and only three have been granted refugee status in Canada."