SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NET TIGHTENS
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THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NET WAS PULLED TIGHTER THIS WEEK AS 34 SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED
IN STEPPED-UP OPERATIONS BY THE POLICE, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS.
THE BLITZ IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO FERRET OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HIDING IN HONG KONG.
ALL THE ARRESTED PERSONS HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED TODAY THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY SLACKENING OF EFFORTS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
+ THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE BOTH AT THE BORDER AND THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.
THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED AT THE BORDER IN RECENT WEEKS.
+ IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE RUMOUR MONGERS ARE AT IT AGAIN,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+DEBRIEF INGS OF THOSE ARRESTED SHOW THAT SNAKEHEADS ARE AGAIN SPREADING RUMOURS THAT THERE WILL SOON BE AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
+THIS IS OF COURSE ABSOLUTELY GROUNDLESS.
+AS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TIME AND AGAIN. ALL THESE RUMOURS ARE SPREAD WITH THE SOLE AIM OF MAKING A FAST BUCK. ANYONE FOOL ISH ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IN THEM IS ONLY CHEATING HIMSELF. +
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT GOVERNMENT POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS VERY CLEAR.
+THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HONG KONG. WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY ARE FOUND, THEY WILL BE SENT BACK,+ HE SAID.
DURING THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OPERATION, POLICE INCREASED THEIR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACĖS AND ALSO CARRIED OUT SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN SUSPECT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY,
THEY ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO THE MISUSE OF IDENTITY CARDS. ANOTHER 117 PEOPLE WERE SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER 46 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.
/ON THE