FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1985
7
DRAGNET TIGHTENED UP ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
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THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED SEVERAL ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RAIDS LAST WEEK, RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF 14 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
THE RAIDS BY IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS WERE CARRIED OUT IN BOTH PRIVATE PREMISES AND NON-INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN SHAU KEI WAN, CAUSEWAY BAY AND SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICTS.
THE 14 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMPRISED 11 MEN AND THREE WOMEN AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 48.
SIX OF THEM WERE FOUND TO HAVE IN THE IR POSSESSION
THREE OF THESE IDENTITY CARDS RELATING TO OTHER PERSONS. CARDS HAD ALREADY BEEN REPORTED LOST.
+WE BELIEVE SOME OF THE LOST CARDS HAVE FALLEN INTO THE HANDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. WHEN THE OLD-TYPE IDENTITY CARDS ARE GRADUALLY PHASED OUT AND THE NEW-TYPE CARDS ARE DIFFICULT TO FORGE, THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE USING OTHER PERSONS' IDENTITY CARDS, +
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
+ IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 149 000 CARDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED LOST BUT ONLY 38 700 CARDS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED AND RETURNED TO US. I MUST STRESS THAT THE PENALTY FOR UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF ONE'S IDENTITY CARD IS THE SAME FOR USING OTHER PERSON'S IDENTITY CARD. IT CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $5 000 AND TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT,+ HE SAID.
+THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN FACT ARE USING THE CARDS TO FOOL THE EMPLOYERS FOR GETTING JOBS, BUT NOT THE AUTHORITIES. ALL EMPLOYERS MUST THEREFORE BE ON THE ALERT TO CHECK THE IDENTITY CARDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES CAREFULLY. IF THERE ARE DOUBTS, THEY MAY CALL US FOR ADVICE ON 5-420412 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
+ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY AS IT IS OBLIGATORY FOR THEM TO INSPECT THE PROOF OF IDENTITY OF THOSE WHOM THEY WISH TO EMPLOY AND THERE ARE PENALTIES FOR EMPLOYERS WHO DISREGARD THE LAW.
+WE WISH TO STRESS THAT ENTERING HONG KONG ILLEGALLY IS POINTLESS BECAUSE THERE IS NO AMNESTY AND THAT ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE RETURNED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK THE CO-OPERATION OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AND THE SECURITY FORCES WILL MAKE EVEN GREATER EFFORTS ON THE BORDERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/HE ALSO