FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 1979
1.
NEW LEGISLATION PROPOSED TO GIVE WIDER POWERS TO AUTHORITIES TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE TO GIVE WIDER POWERS TO THE AUTHORITIES TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AND REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION INCLUDES, AMONG OTHERS, PROVISIONS FOR THE DETENTION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TO BE REMOVED FROM HONG KONG TO GIVE EVIDENCE OR FACILITATE INQUIRIES INTO ANY OFFENCE, AND THE REMOVAL OF THE RESTRICTION ON THE SIZE OF VESSELS WHICH MAY BE FORFEITED AS A RESULT OF OFFENCES COMMITTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
EXPLAINING THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, INCLUDED IN THE
IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1979 GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AT PRESENT AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MAY BE DETAINED PENDING HIS REMOVAL ONLY FOR SUCH MINIMUM TIME AS IS NECESSARY TO EFFECT HIS RETURN.
+ IN MANY CASES THIS NORMALLY MEANS ONLY ABOUT 24 HOURS,+ HE SAID.
+FREQUENTLY AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO IS TO BE REMOVED HAS VITAL INFORMATION WHICH WOULD FACILITATE THE INVESTIGATION OF A SUSPECTED CRIME OR IS IN A POSITION TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT LEGAL POSITION, THE IMMIGRANT CANNOT GIVE HIS INFORMATION OR EVIDENCE AT THE TIME REQUIRED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE ADDED, THE PRINCIPAL ORDINACE IS AMENDED +SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DETENTION OF PERSONS WHO ARE TO BE REMOVED FROM HONG KONG FOR THE PURPOSE OF EITHER GIVING EVIDENCE AT A CRIMINAL TRIAL OR HELPING INQUIRIES INTO ANY OFFENCE OR SUSPECTED OFFENCE.
+DETENTION FOR NOT MORE THAN 28 DAYS WILL BE AT THE CHIEF SECRETARY'S DISCRETION. THIS PERIOD MAY BE EXTENDED BY A COURT ON THE APPLICATION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND IS INTENDED TO COVER SUCH CASES AS JUSTICE SO REQUIRES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ON FORFEITURE OF VESSELS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRESENT LEGISLATION PROVIDES FOR THE FORFEITURE OF SHIPS NOT EXCEEDING 250 GROSS TONS IF THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP IS GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE RELATING TO THE CARRYING OR LANDING OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, RECENT EVENTS HAVE SHOWN THAT OCEAN-GOING VESSELS MAY BE INVOLVED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AND THE AMENDING LEGISLATION PROPOSES TO REMOVE THE RESTRICTION OF 250 GROSS TONS, THUS MAKING ALL SHIPS LIABLE TO FORFEITURE.
IN ADDITION, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ALSO ADD A NEW SECTION TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE WITH THE POWERS TO ARREST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
EXPLAINING THE