THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1980
IMMIGRATION SERVICE EXPANDS RAPIDLY
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THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE HAS EXPANDED RAPIDLY IN RECENT YEARS TO COPE WITH TRAVEL BY HONG KONG RESIDENTS, VISITORS TO HONG KONG AND RECENTLY WITH THE SHARP INCREASE IN IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THURSDAY).
+AS A RESULT, HE SAID, WE HAVE REVIEWED THE WORK OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LEVELS AT WHICH IT IS PERFORMED. THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION HAS CONCLUDED THAT SOME OF THE DUTIES PRESENTLY UNDERTAKEN BY OFFICER CADRE COULD BE PERFORMED BY THE SUBORDINATE RANKS OF IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT AND SENIOR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT,+
MR DAVIES WAS SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE THESE GRADES OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WITH CERTAIN STATUTORY POWERS IN ORDER TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE PROPOSED DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.
HE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WOULD ENSURE THAT THE POWERS TO BE CONFERRED WERE EXERCISED UNDER THE CLOSE SUPERVISION OF OFFICER RANKS AND THAT THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE RESPONSIBILITY WAS DISCHARGED DID NOT RESULT IN ANY DETERIORATION IN THE STANDARD OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT, OR UNNECESSARY INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO TRANSFER CERTAIN POWERS STIPULATED IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY.
MR DAVIES ALSO MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 PROPOSING THAT WARRANT CARDS ISSUED TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE SHOULD NO LONGER BE SIGNED PERSONALLY BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.
DEBATE ON THE TWO BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.
BILL TO CATER FOR SETTING UP OF MINI-CINEMAS
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THE PRESENT PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT REGULATIONS, WHICH CAME INTO FORCE IN 1934, ARE BY NOW, IN MANY RESPECTS OBSOLETE AND DO NOT, IN PARTICULAR, CATER FOR SMALL 500 TO 2 000-SEAT CINEMAS ABOVE GROUND LEVEL IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, MR JONES SAID THE BILL AIMED AT DISPELLING ANY DOUBTS AS TO THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE LOCATION OF PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT WITHIN BUILDINGS WHICH ARE USED ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES AND TO LAY DOWN APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS.
/HE SAID ...............