126.
However, the urge to enter Hong Kong seems to be 86 powerful as ever. We must, therefore, maintain the high level of operations by the security
security forces and the Immigration Department, and we aro procoing on with improvements to physical barriers and, communications. These will be compibtod:
by mid 1983.
127.
:
Yet, despite the vigilance of the security forces and. the formidable barrier on the border, illegal immigranta still get through. An important now factor in deterring them, and detecting them if they still manage to get in, will be the more
secura replacement identity card which the Immigration
Department will start ipouing in May 1933. Priority of ipaue io being given to males between the ages of 18 and 35, because it is in this group that those who have succeeded in entering illegally are most likely to be found. In future, it will be much more difficult to forge identity cards and those already hoze who are trying to avoid detection by using them will be discovered and repatriated. This important operation Will gause inconvenience, to the extent of two short attendances at centre, but the personal cost is worth paying to produce a much more effective document and record in the interests of the community as a whole. It goes without saying that this event will not be the occasion for an amnesty.
immigrants from
128.
Απ to the other main category of China, namely those who come with the permission of the Chinese authorities and remain here, we continue to be concerned by the numbers involved. Arriving at a rato of воде 55,000 a year, they represent an additional 19 ezpansion in
expansion in our population. We recognise the pressure on the Chinoce authorities from tir vory large number of people with good
with good reason for coming to Hong Kong. We hope nevertheless it will soon be possible to make some reduction in the numbers who enter and remain here, and we are in close touch with them on this issue,
39
/(a) Vietnamese