3
not good, so the resettlement countries are telling
us. And as the refugees are still coming to Hong
Kong, we still need the special powers in the
Immigration Ordinance to deal with them.
5.
Illegal immigration from China also remains
a problem. In 1985, 12,616 illegal immigrants were
arrested when attempting to enter Hong Kong, and a
further 3,394 who had evaded security forces at the
border were arrested subsequently. For the first
nine months of 1986, the figures were 11,843 and
2,623 respectively, compared with 7,841 and 2,331
for the corresponding period in 1985. No particular
reason has been identified for the increased level
of illegal immigration this year. It could well be
a combination of the usual factors including rumours
circulating in China that amnesties would be.
granted.
6.
The situation which I have just described
reinforces the need to retain provisions in the
Immigration Ordinance designed to assist in
controlling the entry of unauthorised immigrants.
It is our belief that neither the Vietnamese
refugee nor the illegal immigration problems will be
with us permanently. Accordingly the motion before
the Council seeks to extend these provisions again
for one more year until 31 December 1987 when we
shall again review the position.
7.
Sir, I beg to move.