XN000022-1980-10-23 — Page 14

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1980

+THE GROWTH OF POPULATION ATTRIBUTABLE TO IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA ALONE IN 1979 WAS THREE PER CENT, ON A BASE OF 4-1/2 MILLION.

+WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO BE SUBMERGED. WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO SEE HARD WON IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHITTLED AWAY, +

UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION, IT WOULD BE OBLIGATORY FOR THOSE OVER 15 TO CARRY AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY ON AND AFTER OCTOBER 30, AND TO SHOW IT ON DEMAND BY THE POLICE AND THE IMMIGRATION SERVICES.

A PERSON WHO IS APPREHENDED WHEN NOT CARRYING A DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY WILL BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND FACILITY TO PROVE HE IS ENTITLED TO BE IN HONG KONG.

+1 EMPHASIZE THAT THE MEASURES ARE NOT AIMED AT HONG KONG RESIDENTS, BUT I NEED HARDLY ADD THAT THOSE WHO THROUGH CARELESSNESS, FORGETFULNESS OR INDIFFERENCE DO NOT CARRY THEIR DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY WILL HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME IF THEY SPEND SOME HOURS IN ANXIETY AND SOME DEGREE OF INCONVENIENCE AND DISCOMFORT, AND AT THE END BE FINED.+

THE MEASURES ALSO REQUIRE THE ACTIVE COOPERATION AND WHOLE- HEARTED SUPPORT OF EMPLOYERS.

+NO ONE WITHOUT A SPECIFIED DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY MAY BE HENCEFORTH EMPLOYED OR CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYED THOSE ALREADY EMPLOYED SHALL HAVE THEIR EMPLOYMENT SUMMARILY TERMINATED.

+THESE MEASURES, AGAIN, MAY BE INCONVENIENT, BUT THEY ARE ESSENTIAL, +

AS FOR THOSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALREADY HERE, THEY WILL BE GIVEN A PERIOD OF 72 HOURS DURING WHICH THEY MAY REGISTER THEMSELVES WITH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IN VICTORIA BARRACKS.

MR CHEUNG SAID THE CHOICE TO HAVE ONE CENTRE ONLY HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE UNOFFICIALS AS IT ALLOWS THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION TO CONCENTRATE HIS RESOURCES IN ONE PLACE+.

HE ALSO STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE BILL WAS GIVEN THREE READINGS IN ONE SITTING, IT WAS NOT LEGISLATION THAT HAD NOT BEEN FULLY DELIBERATED UPON OR RUSHED.

+ IT HAS BEEN SOLUTELY NECESSARY, IN ORDER NOT TO CREATE AN EVEN BIGGER BUILD-UP OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WAITING TO MAKE THE DASH, TO KEEP THESE PROPOSALS HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL, HE EXPLAINED.

HE NOTED THAT TE COVERNOR HAD CONSULTED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT ALL STÅGES OVER A PERIOD OF MO THS, AND PENDING HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. THE BILL AND THE ACCOMPANYING REGULATIONS HAD BEEN UBJECTED TO THE CLOSEST SCRUTINY BY UNOFFICI -

ATIVE UNCILLORS.

/FF