24
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1991
HE STRESSED THAT ALL THE MEASURES TO STREAMLINE THE OPERATION OF CNTA HAD BEEN DRAWN UP AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT ΤΟ CONTROL THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAINING STANDARDS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
"IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES, WE HOPE TO RND UP WITH A MORE EFFICIENT AND SPEEDIER SERVICE BACKED UP BY AUTOMATED RECORDS.
"THIS PROCESS WAS EXPLAINED ΤΟ MEMBERS BY THE SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH LAST WEDNESDAY.
"IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN STANDARDS IF MADE IN OTHER AREAS IN ORDER TO RETAIN MORE PUBLIC ENQUIRY HE SAID.
"LET ME STATE ONCE AGAIN THAT THE CENTRES TO BE ONES THAT RECORD A LOW UTILISATION RATE.
FINANCIAL
CUTS WERE CENTRES,
*
CLOSED ARE
THE OTHER
"HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE MRS TU THAT, LIKE COST-CUTTING MEASURES, THE NEW PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED AND MODIFICATIONS MADE AS NECESSARY,' HE ADDED.
"
GOVT ADOPTS PRAGMATIC AND REASONABLE APPROACH TO OVERSTAYERS
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ADOPTS A PRAGMATIC AND REASONABLE APPROACH TO ALL CASES OF PERSONS OVERSTAYING A PERMITTED PERIOD OF STAY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED
REPLYING TO A WRITTEN QUESTION BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW, MR ASPREY SAID EACH CASE WAS CONSIDERED ON ITS MERITS.
"L BELIEVED THAT THE QUESTION REFERS TO THE CASE OF MR PETER LITWAK, WHO WAS CONVICTED ON FEBRUARY 20 THIS YEAR OF CONTRAVENING A CONDITION OF HIS STAY IN HONG KONG AND FINED $500, THE SECRETARY SAID.
HE SAID WHERE A VISITOR HAD OVERSTAYED FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD, FOR REASONS BEYOND HIS CONTROL OR THROUGH NO FAULT OF HIS OWN, HE WAS NORMALLY GRANTED THE NECESSARY EXTENSION OF STAY.
"
"HOWEVER, THOSE WHO OVERSTAY DELIBERATELY FOR LENGTHY PERIODS WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE ARE NORMALLY PROSECUTED, THE SECRETARY - SAID.
HE ADDED THAT MR LITWAK FELL VERY CLEARLY INTO THIS CATEGORY.
MR ASPREY SAID IT WAS NEITHER THE POLICY NOR THE PRACTICE OF IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO DETAIN PERSONS IN THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE AT THE AIRPORT.
THE
/*MR LITWAK