XN000022-1979-04-10 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1979

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE STAFF

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AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON. ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT ADDITIONAL STAFF WOULD HAVE TO BE SOUGHT TO MEET THE HEAVY DEMANDS PLACED ON THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

ADDRESSING A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 18 RECRUITS. MR. SO NOTED THAT AT NO TIME IN ITS 18-YEAR HISTORY DID THE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO COPE WITH SUCH DIFFICULT PROBLEMS AS THOSE NOW CONFRONTING IT.

APART FROM DEALING WITH INCREASING NUMBERS OF TRAVELLERS BOTH TO AND FROM HONG KONG, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAD TO DEAL WITH REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AS WELL AS WITH LARGE INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO HONG KONG FROM CHINA,

AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPARTMENT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION HAD BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AND GREAT EFFORTS HAD TO BE MADE TO COMBAT FORGERY AND FRAUD IN THE IMMIGRATION FIELD.

+IT IS VERY GRATIFYING TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFULLY YOUR SERVICE HAS, SO FAR, COPED WITH ALL THESE PROBLEMS,+ SAID MR. SO.

+UNFORTUNATELY, HE ADDED, THE OVERWHELMING DEMANDS MADE ON THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAVE MEANT THAT THE SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC HAS NOT BEEN AS PROMPT AND CONVENIENT AS THE DEPARTMENT WOULD WISH.

+ IT IS INEVITABLE IN THE LONG RUN THAT ADDITIONAL STAFF HAVE TO BE SOUGHT AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE RECRUITMENT OF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WILL BE ACCELERATED, MR. SO SAID.

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