3 -
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 1979
A REGISTRANT WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO FURNISH MORE PARTICULARS. THESE INCLUDE HIS CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS, THE DATE OR YEAR OF HIS BIRTH, THE NUMBER OF HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR ADOPTION CERTIFICATE IF APPLICABLE, THE TERRITORIES IN WHICH HE HAS LIVED CONTINUOUSLY FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE BEFORE HE CAME TO HONG KONG, AND ANY TRAVEL DOCUMENT HELD BY HIM.
UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE, ALL PERSONS INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY LIVING HERE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ENTER HONG KONG ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER UNLESS THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED IN LAW.
AT PRESENT, A GENUINE VISITOR IS EXEMPTED FROM THE NEED TO REGISTER IF HE STAYS IN HONG KONG FOR LESS THAN 90 DAYS. UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, THE PERIOD OF EXEMPTION WILL BE EXTENDED TO 180 DAYS. +THIS IS BECAUSE MORE GENUINE VISITORS REMAIN IN HONG KONG FOR LONGER THAN 90 DAYS,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
UNDER THE PRESENT LAW, PROSECUTION FOR AN OFFENCE UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS REGULATIONS MUST BE BROUGHT WITHIN TWO YEARS FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENCE,
+HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +IT OFTEN HAPPENS THAT OFFENCES ARE NOT DETECTED UNTIL SOME YEARS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.+
THEREFORE, UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, THE TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTIONS IS TO BE EXTENDED TO THREE YEARS FOR THE FOLLOWING OFFENCES.
*
FAILURE BY AN ADULT REGISTRANT OR NEW ARRIVAL TO APPLY FOR REGISTRATION=
* FAILURE BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO REGISTER A CHILD AT THE AGE PRESCRIBED FOR JUVENILE REGISTRATION-
* FAILURE OF A PERSON TO RE-REGISTER ON ATTAINING THE
AGE OF 18- AND
* FAILURE TO REPORT CHANGES OF REGISTERED PARTICULARS.
TO DETER THOSE WHO SEEK TO EVADE THE LAW, MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM A FINE OF $1 000 AND SIX MONTHS' JAIL TO A FINE OF $3 000 AND ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT OR A FINE OF $5 000 AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT DEPENDING ON THE GRAVITY OF THE OFFENCE.
THE NEW REGULATIONS ALSO SEEK TO STRENGTHEN AND CLARIFY THE ROLE OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS SYSTEM IN IMMIGRATION CONTROL BY REMOVING AN AMBIGUITY IN THE REGULATION GOVERNING THE ISSUE OF IDENTITY CARDS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THE NEW REGULATIONS NOW PROVIDE THAT AN IDENTITY CARD WILL NOT BE ISSUED TO AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT UNTIL HIS STAY IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN AUTHORISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.
14