XN000022-1980-10-23 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1980

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE VERY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, +WHO FOR MANY HOURS ANSWERED QUERIES, DISCUSSED DIFFERENCES AND CONSIDERED OUR ADVICE.+

• IT IS TOO MUCH FOR ANY LEGISLATOR TO HOPE THAT THE LAWS HE MAKES WILL CATER FOR EVERY COMBINATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY ARISE, BUT THESE NEW LAWS AND HOW THEY OPERATE IN PRACTICE WILL BE KEPT UNDER CLOSE REVIEW, AND IT MAY BE THAT AMENDMENTS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE, BUT IF THERE ARE OBSCURITIES OR DEFICIENCIES IT IS NOT FOR WANT OF TRYING TO REMOVE THEM,+

MR CHEUNG SAID.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS NEW IMMIGRATION MEASURES

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THE HON DAVID NEWBIGGING, SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ALSO ENDORSED THE MEASURES ADOPTED TODAY BY THE COUNCIL AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA.

HE SAID HE WAS ENDORSING THE MEASURES NOT ONLY AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, +BUT ALSO AS CHAIRMAN OF SEVERAL COMPANIES EMPLOYING A LARGE WORKFORCE AND AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

+ I AM SURE THAT OTHER EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYER ORGANISATIONS WILL ALSO GIVE THEIR UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT, HE SAID.

HE SAID GIVEN THE DIMENSION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MENTIONED BY THE GOVERNOR, IT WAS CLEARLY THE SINGLE MOST SERIOUS THREAT AFFECTING US, BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY AND TOUGH MEASURES WERE REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH IT.

+ IN MANY CASES, THESE MAY BE PERSONALLY INCONVENIENT BUT THEY ARE NECESSARY. HE ADDED.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINAL DEADLINE FOR ID CARD REGISTRATION * * * *

COMMENTING ON TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT EMPHASISED THAT PEOPLE WHO HAD ENTERED HONG KONG ILLEGALLY FROM CHINA AND HAD NOT YET REGISTERED AND APPLIED FOR AN IDENTITY CARD MUST DO SO BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26,

ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM CHINA WHO HAS NOT REGISTERED BY THAT DATE WILL BE LIABLE TO BE REPATRIATED TO CHINA.

REGISTRATIONS SHOULD BE MADE WITHOUT DELAY AT THE SPECIAL REGISTRATION OFFICE, VICTORIA BARRACKS, COTTON TREE DRIVE, HONG KONG ISLAND.

/THE OFFICE