FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1984
BILL TO IMPROVE IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES
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A BILL PROPOSING TO IMPROVE A NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
IT
KNOWN AS THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984 PROPOSES TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE BY ALLOWING CERTAIN INVESTIGATORY DUTIES, NOW PERFORMED BY OFFICERS, TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE RANK AND FILE OF THE SERVICE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE PROPOSAL, SENIOR IMMIGRATION_ASSISTANTS AND IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO DETAIN DOCUMENTS PRODUCED IN THE COURSE OF IMMIGRATION EXAMINATION, TO ARREST AND DETAIN SUSPECTS AND TO CONDUCT SEARCHES IF IT IS SUSPECTED THAT AN IMMIGRATION OFFENCE HAS BEEN COMMITTED.
+SIMILAR DUTIES IN THE CASE OF THE POLICE ARE ALREADY BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE POLICE RANK AND FILE AND IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS FLEXIBILITY IN DEPLOYMENT OF IMMIGRATION STAFF WOULD RESULT IN SOME SAVINGS IN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT PROPOSED BY THE BILL WILL ENABLE THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE TO CALL UPON THE ASSISTANCE OF CUSTOMS OFFICERS BY ALLOWING THEM TO EXERCISE CERTAIN POWERS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE. THE ORDINANCE ALREADY PROVIDES FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE AUTHORISED TO EXERCISE THESE POWERS.
IT FURTHER CLARIFIES THAT WHEN TEMPORARY RESIDENTS OR VISITORS LEAVE HONG KONG, THEIR PERMISSION TO LAND OR TO REMAIN HERE LAPSES AUTOMATICALLY AND THAT ON THEIR RETURN THEY MAY NOT LAND WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER OR IMMIGRATION ASSISTANT.
OTHER PROPOSALS UNDER THE BILL WILL PUT BEYOND DOUBT THE POWER OF THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION TO ISSUE A REMOVAL ORDER AGAINST SOMEONE WHO OBTAINED PERMISSION TO ENTER HONG KONG BY MEANS OF FALSE STATEMENTS OR FORGED DOCUMENTS.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO RECOVER AS A CIVIL DEBT EXPENSES IT INCURRED FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REMOVAL OF PERSONS WHO ARE TO BE REMOVED OR DEPORTED.
IN ADDITION, REPORTS OF THE DEPORTATION TRIBUNAL WOULD BE RECEIVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY RATHER THAN BY THE GOVERNOR, BUT DEPORTATION ORDERS WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 16 AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON MAY 30.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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