WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1980
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TWO-PRONGED ATTACK ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RACKETS
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THE SECURITY FORCES ARE IDENTIFYING AND TAKING PRE-EMPTIVE ACTION IN ADDITION TO INTERCEPTING AND ARRESTING HIGH-SPEED BOATS BRINGING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO HONG KONG.
THESE TWO MEASURES WERE DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR DAVIES SAID INTELLIGENCE ON THE ACTIVITIES OF OPERATORS WERE BEING ACCUMULATED AND SEVERAL CASES WERE BEFORE THE COURTS.
+THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS DEPLOYED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE MARINE POLICE FOR THIS PURPOSE,+ HE NOTED.
IN RESPECT OF THE INTERCEPTION AND ARREST OPERATION MR DAVIES SAID COUNTER MEASURES WERE BEING TAKEN BY THE MARINE POLICE, ROYAL NAVY PATROL VESSELS, INCLUDING HOVERCRAFT, WITH THE HELP OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AND ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS AND THE ARMY.
+TWENTY SPEEDBOATS HAVE SO FAR BEEN SEIZED AND 84 PERSONS FROM 13 BOATS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, HE POINTED OUT.
+THE SECURITY FORCES HAVE REACTED WITH THEIR USUAL INGENUITY AND VIGOUR TO THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT, MR DAVIES SAID, ADDING THAT OPERATIONAL TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS WERE BEING REFINED AND TESTED AND ADDITIONAL SPEEDBOATS WERE BEING OPERATED TO ENSURE THE INTERCEPTION AND ARREST OF SUSPECT SPEEDBOATS ONCE THEY HAD BEEN DETECTED.
MR DAVIES SAID IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO DISCLOSE THE METHODS NOR THE STEPS BEING TAKEN TO GAIN MORE INFORMATION ON THE SYNDICATES INVOLVED.
HE SAID HOWEVER THAT SOME SUCCESS WAS BEING ACHIEVED AND ALREADY THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT ILLICIT AND HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC WAS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE OPERATORS.
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