XN000022-1980-10-23 — Page 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1980

GOVERNOR CALLS FOR UNITED COMMUNITY ACTION

AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY APPEALED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS TO PLAY THEIR PART IN ENFORCING THE NEW MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND TO ASSIST THE POLICE, LABOUR OFFICERS AND IMMIGRATION OFFICERS IN THIS IMPORTANT TASK.

*THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN, BUT SUCCESS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY UNITED ACTION BY THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, HE STRESSED.

SIR MURRAY SAID THE ADDED BURDEN ON THE ENFORCING AGENCIES WOULD BE GREAT, AND HE APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO REALISE THE PROBLEMS OF THESE AGENCIES AND TO HELP THEM IN THE IR DUTY AT WHATEVER COST TO THEIR OWN CONVENIENCE.

+I APPEAL PARTICULARLY TO EMPLOYERS VOLUNTARILY AND FIRMLY TO ENFORCE THIS NEW POLICY AND REFUSE EMPLOYMENT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, + THE GOVERNOR SAID.

BY DOING SO, HE ADDED, THEY CAN WIN THIS BATTLE AND CONFER A GREAT BENEFIT ON THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

UNDER THE NEW MEASURES, AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM CHINA WHO HAS REACHED HONG KONG AFTER TODAY (OCTOBER 23) WILL BE LIABLE TO ARREST ANYWHERE IN HONG KONG AND REMOVAL- IT WILL BE A CRIME TO EMPLOY HIM AND IT WILL BE COMPULSORY TO CARRY PROOF OF IDENTITY ANYWHERE IN HONG KONG.

THE TIME SCALE IS AS FOLLOWS:

*

AFTER TODAY (OCTOBER 23) ALL THOSE WHO COME ILLEGALLY FROM CHINA, AND HAVE NO RIGHT TO REMAIN, WILL BE LIABLE TO BE RETURNED WHEREVER DETECTED.

* FROM TONIGHT UNTIL OCTOBER 26, THOSE WHO WERE

ALREADY IN HONG KONG ON OCTOBER 23 BUT WHO HAVE NOT GOT IDENTITY CARDS WILL BE ABLE TO REGISTER FOR THEM UNDER SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.

* OCTOBER 30 - COMPULSORY CARRYING OF PROOF OF

IDENTITY BEGINS.

* NOVEMBER 3 - IT BECOMES ILLEGAL TO EMPLOY ANY

PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN IDENTITY "ARD OR CERTAIN SPECIFIED PROOFS OF IDENTITY,

WHILE