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59. Arrangements for mutual legal assistance in the
investigation of drug trafficking and money laundering and
the seizure of drug traffickers' assets were negotiated with
three foreign jurisdictions and the United Kingdom. Hong
Kong also joined the OECD Financial Action Task Force formed
to combat money laundering.
60.
At the same time that laws were toughened up to combat
serious crime, steps were taken to abolish corporal
punishment. As a result, all forms of corporal punishment
were removed from the statute books during 1990.
61.
Despite the low unemployment rate, job opportunties in
Hong Kong continued to attract large numbers of illegal
immigrants from China. In 1990 a total of 27,826 illegal
immigrants were apprehended, compared with 15,841 in 1989.
Of particular concern was the increase in the number of
illegal immigrants found working on construction sites.
62. In November, the Hong Kong Government increased the
penalties for those who knowingly employed illegal
immigrants, and introduced a new offence for main contractors who allowed illegal immigrants to be present on
construction sites. As these measures take effect, the
number of illegal immigrants arrested and imprisoned is
expected to decline in the course of 1991. Given that
illegal immigrants constitute 37 per cent of the prison
population, which is already 39 per cent over capacity at
present, these measures should also reduce overcrowding.
63.
In December, the police began to take over
responsibility from the Army for stopping illegal immigrants
from crossing the Hong Kong-China border. The Army is
expected to hand over to the police full responsibility for the control of illegal immigration on the border by the end
of 1992.
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