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Chretien says immigration laws stand

  Prime Minister Jean Chretien holds a news conference after the opening day of the APEC leaders conference, Sunday.(CP/Fred Chartrand)
Prime Minister Jean Chretien holds a news conference after the opening day of the APEC leaders conference, Sunday.(CP/Fred Chartrand)

NAHLAH AYED


AUCKLAND, New Zealand (CP) - Anyone claiming refugee status after arriving in Canada will get a fair hearing even if it means some people will abuse the country's generous immigration laws, Prime Minister Jean Chretien said Sunday.

Replying to criticism that lax entry laws have led to the recent arrival of boatloads of illegal Chinese immigrants on the West Coat, Chretien rejected suggestions Ottawa change its humanitarian approach to immigration.

"You come by plane, you come by boat, you walk, you swim - when you're on the ground, you say 'I want to be a refugee,' and the laws of Canada apply," Chretien told a news conference.

"We're not about to just return the people without hearing what they have to say."

Chretien, who is attending the annual APEC leaders summit, met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Sunday to ask for help in stemming the flow of refugees coming from China's Fujian province.

Jiang agreed to collaborate with Ottawa to solve the problem. However, Chinese leaders have suggested in the past that Ottawa's slow refugee process is probably an incentive for illegal immigrants because they believe they are guaranteed an extended stay in Canada.

Chretien and Jiang did not have an official bilateral meeting, but talked at a scheduled "pull-aside" meeting held while leaders were arriving for the summit opening ceremonies.

Chretien did not give particulars on what was discussed, but indicated he understood why any country would dislike watching its citizens seek refugee status claiming political persecution.

Canada is considering sending RCMP officers to China to gather information and perhaps intercept boats carrying illegal immigrants before they leave.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy explored options with his Chinese counterpart in a meeting in Auckland last week and officials said the RCMP and its counterpart in China will be making contact soon.

The contacts could include sharing of information, posting RCMP in Fujian province, or some mechanism of stopping the people-smuggling boats from leaving in the first place.

A memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries in the spring allows for co-operation in fighting crime, and the Chinese have agreed to use the agreement to help solve the illegal immigrant problem, officials said.

So far this summer, dilapidated boats have crossed the Pacific carrying nearly 600 Chinese migrants, many of whom have claimed refugee status after setting foot in Canada.

The latest boat, seized by Canadian officials Thursday, had more than 150 Chinese illegals aboard.

Immigration officials suspect human smuggling is organized by Chinese gangs, which reap huge profits from the operation.

© The Canadian Press, 1999




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