TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1979
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UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS
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RESIDENTS OR FORMER RESIDENTS IN VIETNAM AND MACAU, OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN MACAU EVEN IN TRANSIT, HAVE BEEN DECLARED TO BE UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS TO HONG KONG, UNLESS THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO LAND IN HONG KONG OR HAVE VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OR HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO LAND BY AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER.
THIS MEANS THAT IF A SHIP ENTERS HONG KONG WITH ANY UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS ON BOARD, HER MASTER, EACH MEMBER OF THE CREW, THE OWNER AND HIS AGENT AND ANY PERSON WHO HAS PARTICIPATED IN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE VOYAGE WILL COMMIT AN OFFENCE AND ARE LIABLE TO A FINE OF UP TO $5 MILLION AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE.
THE DECLARATION WAS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL IN AN ORDER PUBLISHED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (TUESDAY) UNDER THE RECENTLY ENACTED IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) ORDINANCE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW MEASURE IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE THE AUTHORITIES TO DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THOSE WHO ORGANISE THE ILLEGAL ENTRY OF PEOPLE INTO HONG KONG,
HE EMPHASISED: +IT IS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO BAN THE ENTRY INTO HONG KONG WATERS BY SMALL BOATS WITH REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM OR BY LARGER VESSELS CARRYING UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS WHERE HONG KONG IS THE FIRST PORT OF CALL AS DEFINED BY THE GOVERNMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR OR A PORT OF REFUGE. HOWEVER INCREASED POWERS ARE NEEDED TO DEAL WITH THOSE WHO ORGANISE AND ASSIST IN UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION, OFTEN IN RETURN FOR SUBSTANTIAL SUMS OF MONEY.+
THE NEW LEGISLATION ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE FORFEITURE OF VESSELS OR OTHER PROPERTY, INCLUDING MONEY, USED TO FACILITATE THE ENTRY OF UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS.
*THE CASE OF EACH UNAUTHORISED ENTRANT WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSIDERED ON ITS MERITS. THE AMENDING LEGISLATION DOES NOT AFFECT THIS POSITION, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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