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Public Order
It has a staff of 174 disciplined and 56 civilian members, and a fleet of four fixed-wing aircraft and seven helicopters. In 2015, members flew a total of 6,538 hours, helped in 626 search and rescue operations and took 1,693 people to hospital by helicopter.
Immigration Department
Immigration Control
The Immigration Department plays an important role in maintaining law and order by controlling entry into Hong Kong. Through checks at control points and the vetting of entry applications, immigration officers detect undesirable people, including international criminals and dubious visitors. In 2015, 56,855 people were refused entry.
Detection of Forged Travel Documents
Strict measures are taken to guard against the use of forged travel documents. The department also carries out special operations against forgery syndicates. In 2015, 511 forged travel documents were discovered, compared with 523 in 2014. The department maintains close contact with local, Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and consulates, and exchanges information on these documents with them.
Interception of Targeted or Wanted Persons
In 2015, 335,124 targeted or wanted persons were intercepted at immigration control points, suspected of being connected with offences or court orders ranging from failure to settle outstanding fines to serious crimes.
Unlawful Employment
The department's Anti-Illegal Workers Combat Squad combats illegal employment, conducting undercover patrols at illegal worker black spots. In 2015, 6,762 illegal workers were arrested in 13,788 raids, compared with 6,100 arrested in 13,462 raids in 2014. The vast majority were visitors who had breached their conditions of stay.
Illegal workers are fined and/or jailed before being sent back to their places of origin. Their employers are also liable to be prosecuted. In 2015, a total of 275 charges were laid against employers of illegal workers.
Deportation and Removal
The department processes deportation and removal orders. In 2015, 443 people convicted of offences punishable with imprisonment of not less than two years were recommended for deportation and 360 were deported, meaning they are prohibited from returning. Another 901 were removed from Hong Kong, comprising 335 illegal immigrants, 503 people who had breached their conditions of stay, and 63 people who were refused entry.
Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offenders
During 2015, the department laid 4,661 charges against people who had committed various immigration offences, including remaining illegally in Hong Kong, breaching conditions of stay, making false statements or representations, and using or possessing forged travel documents.
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