to
deployment of more Immigration Assistants to direct visitors and Hong Kong residents the appropriate counters. They also assist aged and infirm passengers as well as group tourists travelling on collective travel documents to ensure a smoother traffic flow;
a
revised checking procedure for departing Japanese group tourists, thus reducing the need to call for additional staff from the Arrival Hall to help to deal with them;
re-deployment of 10 officers from other offices
and
reinforcement
services.
as
sections at the expense
temporary of other
Other services
23
of
Other services provided by the Department have also been under considerable strain: for example, the number travellers going through the Lo Wu control points has increased by 160% since 1982 while the immigration establishment has increased only by 45%. The case workload of the Entry Visa Section has increased by 33.3% since 1982/83 but the establishment of staff for the section has remained virtually unchanged. The Extension Section has experienced a 51.9% increase in case workload since 1982/83 and the establishment of staff has remained unchanged until July this year when five officers arrived, representing an increase of staff
more
strength by 7.6%).
Long term improvements
24
Apart from additional staff to man existing counters the following improvements are planned the in the long term:
(a)
(b)
introduction of the TRAICES computer system by mid-1988 will enable watchlists to be checked by computer. The aim is to reduce the average processing time from the current 66 seconds to 22 seconds. The speedier clearance of Hong Kong residents who will no longer need to complete arrival cards, should benefit other passengers;
the addition
of 40 counters upon the completion of Stage V of the Airport Development Programme in mid-1988. Provided that these can be adequately manned, the waiting time for arriving passengers during peak hours should be further reduced.
CONFIDENTIAL