XN000022-1979-01-31 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1979

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IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT PLANS STAFF INCREASE

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THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS TO TRAIN MORE ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS THIS YEAR IF FUNDS FOR THE STAFF INCREASE ARE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT FURTHER RECRUITMENT IS NEEDED TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING WORKLOAD IMPOSED ON THE SERVICES OF THE DEPARTMENT FROM OUTSIDE.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO MORE PEOPLE SEEKING PASSPORTS TO TRAVEL AND STUDY ABROAD, MORE TOURISTS VISITING HONG KONG AND AN ANTICIPATED FURTHER INCREASE IN TRAVEL FROM HONG KONG TO CHINA AND MACAU,

TO EXPEDITE IN-COMING ARRIVALS FROM OVERSEAS, THE NUMBER OF PASSENGER CLEARANCE COUNTERS WILL BE INCREASED AT KAI TAK AIRPORT.

TURNING TO THE TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +ALL NEW RECRUITS WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO Á THREE-MONTH FULL-TIME INDUCTION COURSE.

+THE TRAINING IS COMPREHENSIVE, COVERING THE IMMIGRATION LAWS OF HONG KONG AND HOW TO ENFORCE THEM.

+THEY WILL HAVE TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE TYPES OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND PROCEDURES TO DEAL WITH APPLICATIONS.+

THE COURSE INCLUDES VISA REGULATIONS, ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES FOR IMMIGRATION CLEARANCE AT KAI TAK, MACAU WHARF AND LO WU, GIVING EVIDENCE IN COURT, THE POWER OF ARRESTING AND DETAINING SUSPECTS, TAKING STATEMENTS AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM OF HONG KONG,

AFTER THEIR CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONS THE NEW RECRUITS ARE SENT OUT FOR FIELD TRAINING WITH ATTACHMENTS AT KAI TAK, MACAU WHARF AND LO WU WHERE THEY PERFORM DUTIES UNDER CLOSE SUPERVISION OF SENIOR OFFICERS.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED: +GENERALLY SPEAKING, AFTER SERVING AT THE PASSENGER CLEARANCE COUNTERS, THE YOUNG OFFICERS ARE USUALLY TRANSFERRED TO EITHER DOCUMENTS OR INVESTIGATION DIVISIONS TO ENABLE THEM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IMMIGRATION DUTIES.+

IN THE DOCUMENTS DIVISION, THEY ARE TAUGHT HOW TO HANDLE VISA APPLICATIONS, PASSPORTS, NATURALISATION AND EXTENSIONS OF STAY.

THOSE SENT TO THE INVESTIGATION DIVISION ARE TRAINED IN THE TECHNIQUES FOR DEALING WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND FORGED PASSPORT HOLDERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE ARE GOOD PROSPECTS OF PROMOTION TO IMMIGRATION OFFICER AND MORE SENIOR POSTS AFTER PASSING PROMOTION EXAMINATIONS AND GAINING THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE.

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