fox. I presume the necessary' amersing Legrotation has been
(2) CONFIDENTIAL
128
passed
Illegal immigrant children
from China
17.1
Mr. Willips 20/
아
6/ Mr. McQuade 1 6/1
D&Edgar C. Edgar 411
This note deals with illegal immigrant evaders below the age of 14 who entered Hong Kong unaccompanied by their parents. Henceforth they are referred to as "UMs" unaccompanied minors.
Background
2.
As at 11 December 1981, the number of UM cases in the hands of Immigration Department was 1,637. (Of these all but 4 have come to notice since 1 October 1981. The 4 were under investigation before 1 October.)
3. Interviewing in depth, was suspended on 21 October 1981, pending a review of the policy and because the number of children being brought to ID for legalisation of their stay was excessive. By that time 102 in-depth interviews had been completed, from which 58 UMS appear to qualify for stay and 44 UMS appear to qualify for removal in accord- ance with HE's directive of 13 November 1981.
A
4. Since 21 October 1981, UMS and their claimed parents or quardians have been given a very brief interview to obtain basic, but unverified information as to the child's background. On the basis of these preliminary enquiries, a further 1,141 potential stay cases and a further 394 potential removal cases have been identified, to give the following positions :-
Potential
stay
Potential removal
cases
cases
Interviews finalised
Awaiting full interview
102
(
58
+
44 )
1,535
(
1,141
+
394)
Case load at 11/12/81
1,637
(1,199 +
438 )
(100%)
(73%)
(27%)
X I
Procedure for UMs whose interviews have been completed
5. The parents or guardians of the 102 UMs whose interviews have been completed will be called up to Li Po Chun Chambers commencing 17 December 1981. 8 removal cases have been selected (in consultation with S for S), for service of the Removal Order on 17 December. 20 stay cases have also been called up for the same day. To avoid alerting potential removees, the call-up letters for both removal and stay cases will be worded identically and numbered in one series. Thereafter the remaining 38 stay cases in the
COM
TIL
.../group