THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1980
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THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW LEGISLATION MEANT NO CHANGE TO THE POLICY REGARDING PERSONS WHO ENTERED HONG KONG LEGALLY BUT WHO REMAINED AFTER THE IR PERMITS EXPIRED.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, IF THESE PERSONS INTENDED TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT THEY MUST POSSESS AN ID CARD OR ONE OF THE OTHER SPECIFIED DOCUMENTS.
+SO, WHILE THE POLICY REGARDING OVERSTAYERS HAS NOT CHANGED, THE NEW LEGISLATION DOES AFFECT THEM,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO TREAT THESE PEOPLE AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND REPATRIATE THEM.
+THEY SHOULD HAVE NO SUCH FEAR,+ HE SAID.
BUT IF THEY INTENDED TO STAY LONGER IN HONG KONG, HE SAID, THEY MUST APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION.
LIKEWISE, THOSE WHO WERE DUE TO PICK UP THEIR ID CARDS FROM THE QUEENSWAY OFFICE SHOULD DO SO ON TUESDAY OR THE FOLLOWING FEW DAYS.
FULL CALL-OUT OF THE VOLUNTEERS
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THE GOVERNOR HAS ORDERED A FULL CALL-OUT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) TO ASSIST IN ANTI-ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION MEASURES.
THE CALL-OUT TAKES EFFECT TOMORROW (FRIDAY), AND WILL ADD A FURTHER 500 MEN FOR DUTY WHO DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE AT FULL ALERT IN THE BORDER AREA AND ALONG THE COASTLINES OF HONG KONG.
ALL ACTIVE LIST MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT, EXCEPT THOSE IN THE HOME GUARD AND JUNIOR LEADERS SQUADRONS, MUST REPORT TO REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AT SPORTS ROAD BY 2 PM TOMORROW.
THE CALL-OUT WILL INITIALLY LAST UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY (OCTOBER 26) - THE DEADLINE BY WHICH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALREADY HERE MUST REGISTER THEMSELVES FOR IDENTITY CARDS OR RISK REPATRIATION BUT MAY BE EXTENDED IF NECESSARY.
THE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE DEPLOYED BY INDIVIDUAL SQUADRONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THEY WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE REGULAR FORCES AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE VOLUNTEERS HAD BEEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATIONS SINCE THEY WERE FIRST CALLED OUT ON A LIMITED BASIS IN JUNE LAST YEAR.
THEY RECENTLY CONCLUDED A TOUR OF BORDER DUTY AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL CAMP AND APPREHENDED 555 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DURING THE EIGHT-DAY PERIOD.
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