XN000022-1979-07-29 — Page 6

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SUNDAY, JULY 29, 1979

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT

TO RECRUIT 300 MORE OFFICERS

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THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO RECRUIT 300 ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS THIS YEAR TO COPE WITH INCREASING WORKLOAD LARGELY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE INFLUX OF REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AND INCREASED DEMAND FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BY LOCAL RESIDENTS.

REVEALING THIS TODAY (SUNDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID, +WE ARE LOOKING FOR ENERGETIC YOUNG MEN WITH INTELLIGENCE, SOUND JUDGMENT AND AN ALL-ROUND PERSONALITY TO FILL THE VACANCIES.+

HE SAID THE WORK OF AN ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICER IS CHALLENGING, FOR HE HAS A LOT OF CHANCES OF MEETING PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

+YOUNG PEOPLE WILL FIND THIS JOB INTERESTING, HE SAID.

+ALL NEW RECRUITS HAVE TO UNDERGO A THREE-MONTH FULL-TIME INDUCTION COURSE, HE SAID.

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

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

THE COURSE COVERS 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.

AS PHYSICAL FITNESS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE EFFICIENT DISCHARGE OF THE IR DUTIES, THE RECRUITS RECEIVE TRAINING IN SWIMMING AND GYMNASTIC EXERCISES. TRAINING IS ALSO GIVEN IN FOOT-DRILL, SELF-DEFENCE AND ARREST AND ESCORT TECHNIQUES.

TURNING TO PROSPECTS, HE POINTED OUT THAT ASSISTANT

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ARE PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF IMMIGRATION OFFICER AFTER PASSING AN EXAMINATION AND GAINING THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE, AND THEREAFTER TO EVEN MORE SENIOR POSTS.

+IN FACT, MORE THAN HALF OF THE 86 SERVING SENIOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS JOINED THE DEPARTMENT AS ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS. A FEW OTHERS ARE WORKING EVEN IN HIGHER POSTS WHICH OFFER A SALARY IN THE RANGE OF $6,945 - $10,800 A MONTH, HE ADDED.

APPLICANTS FOR THE POST OF ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICER SHOULD POSSESS A CREDIT IN ENGLISH PLUS A GRADE E OR ABOVE IN FOUR OTHER SUBJECTS IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES OR DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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