SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1984
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BLITZ AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS LAUNCHED
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THE HEAT IS ON AGAIN FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HIDING IN HONG KONG AS THE POLICE, LABOUR, AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS THIS WEEK MOUNTED A SERIES OF BLITZ OPERATIONS TO FLUSH THEM OUT.
THESE STEPPED-UP OPERATIONS RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF 18 SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND CITIZENS.
ALL THE ARRESTED PERSONS HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION
THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REITERATED TODAY THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
+OUR LATEST OPERATION SHOULD DRIVE HOME THE POINT THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE TO THIS POLICY. ANYONE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO
BELIEVE OTHERWISE IS ONLY CHEATING HIMSELF,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT APART FROM CONTINUOUS CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, THERE WAS NO LET-UP IN ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EFFORTS AT THE BORDER.
+A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE AND THE SECURITY FORCES BOTH AT THE LAND AND SEA BORDERS, HE SAID.
DURING THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OPERATION, POLICE INCREASED THE IR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND CARRIED OUT CHECKS AT SUSPECT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THEY ARRESTED ONE SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH A FORGED IDENTITY CARD. ANOTHER 147 PEOPLE WERE SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER 95 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.
ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 10 857 ESTABLISHMENTS TO WEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE WORKING, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULFIL THE IR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THE IR EMPLOYEES.
A TOTAL OF 13 PERSONS IN 12 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY AND HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
ANOTHER 74 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE KEEPING EITHER
NO RECORD OR IMPROPER RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO $50 000 AND JAILED FOR UP TO A YEAR IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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