SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1979
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HE SAID SAFETY ADVICE TO PLEASURE CRAFT OWNERS AND OPERATORS WAS CONTAINED IN THE BOOKLET SAFETY AFLOAT+ WHICH IS A CODE OF SAFE PRACTICE FOR OPERATORS OF SMALL CRAFT.
THE BOOKLET IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT THE ENQUIRY COUNTER OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS AT 102 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG,
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED PLEASURE CRAFT OPERATORS TO INFORM THEIR RELATIVES OR FRIENDS OF THEIR DESTINATION AND EXPECTED TIME OF RETURN BEFORE CASTING OFF.
+THIS WILL HELP NARROW THE SEARCH AREA IN CASE THEY FAIL TO RETURN ON TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, ALL PLEASURE VESSELS ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY CERTAIN LIFE-SAVING AND FIRE-FIGHTING APPLIANCES DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE VESSEL.
HEADWAY MADE IN RESEARCH ON IMMIGRATION MATTERS ******
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONAL RESEARCH SECTION IS MAKING HEADWAY IN BUILDING UP AN INFORMATION POOL AS A BACK-UP SERVICE TO ITS OPERATIONAL GROUPS TACKLING THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND OTHER PROBLEMS.
STARTED IN 1976, THE SECTION HAS COMPILED ABOUT 50,000 INDICES ON UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S REMOVAL OR STOP LISTS, FORGED TRAVEL DOCUMENT RACKETEERS, OVERSTAYERS, AS WELL AS NOTORIOUS TRAVEL AGENCIES.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: THE INDICES PROVIDE AN EASY REFERENCE FOR OUR OFFICERS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FIRM ON OUR INDICES OR TO TRACE A PERSON'S WHEREABOUTS.+
INFORMATION FOR THESE INDICES ARE FED IN FROM OTHER OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY THOSE INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATION WORK AND IN IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS.
ANOTHER SOURCE IS OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT WHICH INCLUDES
THE POLICE, AND OVERSEAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THE INFORMATION COLLECTED IS THEN STUDIED BY EXPERIENCED OFFICERS IN THE SECTION WHO WILL PLOT OUT THE TREND OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AS WELL AS TRAVEL DOCUMENT FORGERIES.
THE RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES FORM THE BASIS OF THE INDEX SYSTEM AND MAY PINPOINT THE AREAS THAT MIGHT REQUIRE MORE ATTENTION OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS IN THE INVESTIGATION OFFICE AS WELL AS VARIOUS EXIT CONTROL POINTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+ACCESS TO THESE RESULTS IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, AS WELL AS OVERSEAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UNDER INTELLIGENCE EXCHANGE ARRANGEMENTS,+ HE SAID.
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