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SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1974
IMPORTANCE OF IMMICRATION CONTROL STRESSED
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UNCONTROLLED IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG COULD JEOPARDISE THE IMMENSE PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELDS OF HOUSING, MEDICAL, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE WHICH AIM TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE, THE COLONIAL SECRETARY, MR. DENYS ROBERTS, WARNED TODAY.
ADDRESSING GRADUATING RECRUITS OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AT THEIR PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT PARADE GROUND, KR. RODERTS NOTED THAT NEARLY 10 MILLION PEOPLE ENTERING OR LEAVING HONG KONG RECEIVED ISSIQRATION CLEARANCE LAST YEAR.
*THE VOLUME OF THIS TRAFFIC HAS ALMOST DOUBLED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND IT BECOMES EVER MORE IMPORTANT THAT THIS HUGE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO CAREFUL CONTROL,+ HE SAID.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY IMPRESSED ON THE GRADUATES THAT HONG KONG DEPENDED ON THEM TO ENSURE THAT UNAUTHORISED PERSONS DO NOT FIND THEIR WAY INTO HONG KONG AID CAST FURTHER STRAIN ON OUR OVERBURDENED FACILITIES.+
HE NOTED THAT THE WORK OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WAS DEMANDING AND REQUIRED AN ABILITY TO WORK UNDER CREAT PRESSURE FOR LONG HOURS. DESPITE THIS, HE IIPRESSED ON THEN TO REMAIN COOL AND COURTEOUS AT ALL TIMES AND LEPAY RUDENESS AND
IMPATIENCE WITH UNDERSTANDING AND POLITENESS.
WHILE IT WAS NOT EASY TO REMAIN CALM AND CHEEFUL WHEN DEALING WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF TIRED, SHORT-TE÷PERED PASSENGERS, MR. ROBERTS SAID A LITTLE GOOD HUNOUR AND COURTESY WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS ENHANCING HONG KONG'S IMAGE ABROAD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF MR. ROBERTS' SPEECH ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE G.I.S. PRESS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.
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