WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1980
VIGILANCE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MUST CONTINUE
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, TODAY EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR CONTINUED VIGILANCE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION DESPITE SOME ENCOURAGING SIGNS.
WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, SIR JACK NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED DAILY HAD DROPPED FROM 400 BETWEEN OCTOBER 1 AND 23 TO 25 A DAY OVER THE LAST SEVEN DAYS.
+UNDOUBTEDLY THE HIGH LEVEL OF ACTIVITY BY THE CHINESE SECURITY FORCES HAS MADE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THIS DRAMATIC CHANGE AND I SHOULD LIKE TO RECORD MY APPRECIATION OF THEIR COOPERATION AT THIS CRITICAL JUNCTURE, HE SAID.
OUR MEASURES TOO WERE HAVING THEIR EFFECT: SIR JACK SAID REPORTS SUGGESTED THAT NEWS OF THE MEASURES HAD REACHED THE COMMUNES OF SOUTH CHINA NO PROSPECTS OF WORK, NO CHANCE OF OBTAINING SERVICES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND A REAL RISK OF DETECTION AND REMOVAL - AND AS A CONSEQUENCE HONG KONG HAD LOST ITS ATTRACTION.
+BUT THESE ARE STILL EARLY DAYS AND WE MUST ABOVE ALL AVOID COMPLACENCY, + SIR JACK SAID. +THERE MUST BE NO RELAXATION OF OUR VIGILANCE.
THE SECURITY FORCES, HE SAID, WILL REMAIN ON THE ALERT AND WILL BE STRENGTHENED NEXT YEAR BY ADDITIONAL TROOPS AS A FIFTH BATTAL ION IS FORMED.
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, POLICE AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE EQUALLY ACTIVE IN SEEKING OUT THESE UNWELCOME ILLEGAL WOULD-BE RESIDENTS.
REFERRING TO ILLEGALS FROM PLACES OTHER THAN CHINA, SIR JACK MADE IT CLEAR THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIABLE TO REMOVAL IF DETECTED, UNLIKE THOSE FROM CHINA +REACHING BASE.+
+THERE IS THEREFORE NO QUESTION OF BAD FAITH OR RETROACTIVE TREATMENT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID. IT IS SIMPLY A QUESTION OF THE PREVIOUS POLICY CONTINUING UNCHANGED.+
SIR JACK NOTED THAT TO ALLOW ANY FORM OF AMNESTY FOR SUCH PEOPLE WOULD NOT ONLY BE UNFAIR TO THOSE WHO HAVE FOLLOWED LAWFUL PROCEDURES, BUT WOULD SET A PRECEDENT WHICH WOULD NOT BE LOST, FOR EXAMPLE ON THE TENS OF THOUSANDS KNOWN TO BE WAITING IN MACAU.
+AT THE SAME TIME, I SHOULD LIKE TO REASSURE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, WHO MAY HAVE MISGIVINGS, THAT SUCH PERSONS WILL NOT BE REMOVED HASTILY NOR WITHOUT FULL CONSIDERATION OF THE IR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES: IF GENUINE HARDSHIP AND DISTRESS WOULD RESULT, THEN THE IR CASE WILL BE HANDLED WITH UNDERSTANDING AND SYMPATHY.+
/TURNING TO