Speech #1010246266

This bill completes a process. a mission if you will. commended by my friend. colleague and senior Senator from the State of Illinois. ALAN DIXON and me in 1986. I was able to add to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 the first provision to increase the Hong Kong quota. Prior to 1986. we permitted only 600 immigrants per year from Hong Kong. Under the SimonDixon amendment in 1986. we increased the Hong Kong immigration quota to 5.000. Today. this bill. effective upon enactment. phases in a new Hong Kong quota at the level of a full country. Specifically. we immediately double the Hong Kong quota to 10.000 for people currently waiting for a visa. That will be the case for the next 3 years. At the same time. we are providing 12.000 extra visas in addition to the 10.000 for Hong Kong residents who are the executives. managers and supervisors of U.S. companies doing business on the island. Taken together. Hong Kong residents will have available to them 22.000 for each of the next 3 years under this bill. In fiscal year 1994. Hong Kong will get the same number of visas as other countries. Other provisions of this bill increase the per country ceiling to 7 percent of family and employment visasestimated to range from 25.000 to 27.000 in the first few years. So we complete the process today at a pivotal time for the people of Hong Kong. The blood and tragedy of Tiananmen Square were felt around the world but particularly in Hong Kong. The fears of 1997 engulf Hong Kong. I introduced a Hong Kong quota bill last year shortly after Tiananamen Square. By the action we take today. America says that we care about the people of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong amendment because of language added by Representative BARNEY FRANK extends the validity of the Hong Kong visas to about the year 2001. We do this so as not to force Hong Kong residents to flee the island prematurely. Indeed. if Hong Kong residents know they can leave in the future. they will not feel compelled to do so at the first opportunity. By staying in Hong Kong. they can provide the stability the island will need to stay afloat after 1997. Let me also commend the untiring efforts of Senator DENNIS DECONCINI on behalf of Salvadoran refugees. I have cosponsored his efforts every year I have been in the Senate for the protection of these individuals. In the last hour of the conference. the conferees accepted by suggested compromise of an 18month temporary stay for Salvadorans. I hope the Depart. ment of Justice implements this provision speedily. On the temporary protected status provision. the Attorney General should pay special attention to the situation of Liberians here in the United States. Approximately 10.000 Llberians are stranded in the United States. separated from loved ones at home. They cannot be expected to return home.