THURSDAY, JULY 7, 1994
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GOVERNMENT FIRM ON ANTI-II POLICY
THE
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (THURSDAY) REAFFIRMED GOVERNMENT'S POLICY AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, ADDING THAT THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN HONG KONG WAS STILL SERIOUS.
ACCORDING ΤΟ GOVERNMENT FIGURES, THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN 1993 STOOD AT 37,517, THE HIGHEST IN 12 YEARS. THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED THIS YEAR IS 15,532 JUNE 30 AND THE ANNUAL FIGURE IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED 30,000.
AS AT
ΤΟ PREVENT THE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BY LAND, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOCATED $52.5 MILLION ΤΟ STRENGTHEN THE BORDER FENCE FROM SHA TAU KOK TO MAI PO.
"THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO SEEKING FUNDS TO ENHANCE THE FENCE OPERATIONAL FACILITIES ALONG THE WESTERN BORDER.
AND
"IN ADDITION, THE FIELD PATROL DETACHMENT OF THE POLICE BORDER DISTRICT CONTINUES TO PATROL THE BORDER ROUND THE CLOCK,
+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THERE WAS A LARGE UNDERGROUND POPULATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE, APART FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S TOUGH ANTI-II MEASURES, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET JOBS WITHOUT AN IDENTITY CARD.
HE SAID OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED, ABOUT 60 PER CENT CAME BY SEA AND 40 PER CENT BY LAND. THE PERCENTAGE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT ON ENTRY INTO HONG KONG AVERAGES AROUND 30 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ARREST FIGURES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN VIEW OF CHANGING TIMES AND NEEDS, THE SECURITY BRANCH HAD REVIEWED THE NECESSITY OF CONTINUING A CURFEW ORDER WITHIN THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA (FCA) WHICH WAS IMPOSED IN 1956 TO FACILITATE OPERATIONS OF ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY THE SECURITY FORCES.
THE CURFEW ORDER REQUIRES ALL PERSONS WITHIN THE FCA TO REMAIN INDOORS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 4 AM UNLESS THEY HAVE A VALID CURFEW PASS ISSUED BY THE POLICE.
"AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED ΤΟ BALANCE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND THE NEED TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THE CURFEW SHOULD BE LIFTED FROM AUGUST 1 THIS YEAR AND ALI CURFEW PASSES WILL THEREFORE BE CANCELLED ON THAT DATE,' THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"THE MOVE WILL ENABLE RESIDENTS TO ENJOY MORE FREEDOM IN THEIR MOVEMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INTEGRITY OF THE BORDER WILL STILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE DEMARCATION OF THE FCA AND BY THE FCA PERMITS ISSUED TO RESIDENTS.
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'FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSE, RESIDENTS WILL ONLY NEED TO PRODUCE THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FCA PERMITS, HE ADDED.
וז
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. "ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED WILL BE REPATRIATED. THOSE FOUND WORKING, AS WELL AS EMPLOYERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WOULD BE PROSECUTED," HE STRESSED.
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