Exclusion of student

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32539, 24 February 1971, Page 3

Exclusion of student

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Feb. 13. “The decision not to extend the entry permit of Mr Ah Chee Fong was made in accordance with a policy which has the unqualified support of the New Zealand University Students’ Association,” the Associate Minister of Immigration (Mr Thomson) said today.

Mr Thomson was referring to the reported statement of the principal of the Christchurch Technical Institute about the refusal of the Labour Department to allow Mr Fong, a Malaysian student, to study at the institute.

Cases of this kind evoked public sympathy and support, but a stand must be token with overseas students whose academic progress was unsatisfactory, Mr Thomson said.

“Mr Fong began his studies at Canterbury University in 1966. In the ensuing four years he passed in only five subjects, and was excluded from both the engineering and the science faculties.

“He enrolled with the

Christchurch Technical Institute early in 1970 after he had been advised that his student permit would not be extended and after he had given an undertaking that he would not enrol until he had received the department’s consent. Consent was not given'and he was instructed ■in March, 1970, to leave the country. “Before the scheduled date of his departure Mr Fong became ill, and he was n’ot discharged from hospital until January of this year. Insofar as his illness is concerned, Mr Fong has my fullest sympathy, but I can see no reason for varying the decision that he should return to Malaysia. “It has been reported that Mr Fong requires only one year to complete his qualification. This is not correct. The principal of the institute has confirmed that Mr Fong requires two years academic study, combined with work experience, followed by a further year’s work experience, making a minimum total of three years before he can complete his qualification. “Officers of the Labour Department have discussed the case fully with the president of the N.Z.U.S.A., who agrees entirely with the decision which the department has made,” Mr Thomson said. The New Zealand University Students’ Association

i- fully supported the action of e the Immigration Division of s the Labour Department in not e extending Mr Fong’s permit, d the president of the associae tion (Mr D. Cuthbert) said in d Wellington today. s “The Immigration Division tis only implementing the d regulations in the case of Mr e Fong by not extending his permit,” Mr Cuthbert said, e “It is obvious that Mr Fong i- has not achieved what is rei- garded as satisfactory 11 academic progress, and so r must return to Malaysia.”