Sir,
Speech by the Secretary for Security in the Legislative Council on 17 April 1985
Immigration facilities
In this debate, Mrs. Selina CHOW has rightly pointed out that "the services offered by the Immigration Department at different points of entry require not only long term planning, which has been
She referred promised, but also some immediate temporary relief". specifically to the pressures building up at Tai Kok Tsui and at
Man Kam To.
2.
With the total number of passengers travelling through immigration control points increasing in the last two years from 25.7 million to 29.8 million to 36 million, we are acutely conscious of the need for long term planning. And I can assure Mrs. Chow that it is more than promised. It is actually happening.
3.
Examples of building work completed or in progress are the extension of the temporary terminal at LoWu and work now proceeding on a new building to be ready in March 1987; the Sha Tau Kok terminal opened in February this year; a new permanent terminal in Man Kam To to be completed in 1986; a new permanent terminal to be completed for the Macau ferry this year; a new permanent terminal for the China ferry services at Tai Kok Tsui to be ready by the end of 1987, a new control point at Lok Ma Chau to be completed in 1987; and the facilities at the Airport to be extended by 1987. So much for building actually in progress. In additiom, planning is going ahead to expand the permanent facilities at LoWu to deal with expected increases in traffic; to improve the facilities at Hung Hom; and to introduce computer systems for all control points.
4.
Mrs. Chow also stressed the need for immediate temporary
relief. I am afraid that I can hold out little hope in this respect.
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