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FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1981
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR POSSESSION WITHOUT LAWFUL EXCUSE OF FORGED IDENTITY CARDS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS ISSUED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE WOULD BE RAISED FROM TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $5 000 TO SEVEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $50 000 UPON CONVICTION ON INDICTMENT, OR TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $20 000 ON SUMMARY CONVICTION, THESE BEING THE EXISTING PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION OF FORGED TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARDS.
AN ACCUSED WOULD BEAR THE ONUS OF ESTABLISHING THE EXISTENCE OF A LAWFUL EXCUSE FOR SUCH POSSESSION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS MEASURE WAS AIMED NOT ONLY AT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO CARRIED A FORGED IDENTITY CARD BUT ALSO AT ORGANISED TRAFFICKING IN IDENTITY CARDS AND PHOTOGRAPH SUBSTITUTION.
AT PRESENT, ALL RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG ARE REQUIRED TO USE THEIR NAMES AND NUMBERS ON THEIR IDENTITY CARDS IN ALL DEALINGS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A FURTHER DISINCENTIVE TO
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THINKING OF PASSING THEMSELVES OFF AS RESIDENTS, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT WOULD BECOME AN OFFENCE, PUNISHABLE BY A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF ONE YEAR'S IMPRISONMENT AND À FINE OF $5 000.
UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM REGISTERING FOR IDENTITY CARDS. THE SPOKESMAN DISCLOSED THAT ONCE THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 WAS PASSED INTO LAW, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO INTRODUCE REGULATIONS EXTEND ING THIS BAN TO PERSONS IN HONG KONG WHO WERE IN BREACH OF A LIMIT OF STAY.
+GIVEN THESE PROPOSED MEASURES AND THE FACT THAT PLANS ARE IN HAND FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW, MORE SECURE IDENTITY CARD, THE SPOKESMAN WARNED, IT WILL BECOME EVEN MORE UNATTRACTIVE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO COME HERE, AND FOR EVADERS TO REMAIN. +
THE SPOKESMAN SAID PERSONS ALREADY LIVING ILLEGALLY IN HONG KONG WOULD BE BEST ADVISED TO SURRENDER THEMSELVES TO THE AUTHOR ITIES WITHOUT DELAY.
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