XN000022-1980-10-23 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER, 23, 1980

THE FIRST MAJOR PROPOSAL WOULD BE THE REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY PERSON AGED 15 AND OVER, WHO HOLDS AN IDENTITY CARD OR IS REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE, TO HAVE WITH HIM AT ALL TIMES ONE OF SEVERAL SPECIFIED FORMS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY. THESE INCLUDE

* AN IDENTITY CARD-

*

AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT CONFIRMING THAT HE HAS APPLIED

FOR SUCH A CARD OR FOR A REPLACEMENT-

*

A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT-

*

A DRIVING LICENCE, OR

* A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARD.

SIR JACK SAID THE LAST REQUIREMENT HAD BEEN INSERTED TO AVOID PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES SINCE THEY WERE NOT ISSUED WITH NORMAL IDENTITY CARDS.

+THOSE STOPPED BY THE POLICE MUST PRODUCE THEIR PROOF OF IDENTITY AND FAILURE TO DO SO WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE CARRIES LIABILITY TO A FINE OF $1 000,+ HE POINTED OUT.

THE OBJECT, HE SAID, WAS TO FACILITATE DETECTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ISSUED WITH IDENTITY CARDS.

+CONSEQUENTLY ANYONE, SAY, FOUND BY THE POLICE IN A STOP-AND- SEARCH OPERATION AT A ROAD BLOCK NOT TO HAVE AN IDENTITY CARD OR OTHER PROOF OF IDENTITY WILL BE SUSPECT, SIR JACK EXPLAINED.

IT IS IN THE INDIVIDUAL'S INTERESTS PERSONAL INCONVENIENCE AND EMBARRASSMENT AT LARGE THAT THIS REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE

IF ONLY TO AVOID

NIT

AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY COMPLIED WITH.

IT WOULD MAKE THE LARGE-SCALE CHECKS AND CONTROLS MUCH EASIER AND QUICKER TO CARRY OUT AND AT THE SAME TIME HELP TO FLUSH OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HOPING TO ESCAPE DETECTION, HE SAID.

SIR JACK SAID THE SECOND MAJOR STEP WAS THE PROPOSAL TO DEBAR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM EMPLOYMENT.

UNDER THE LEGISLATION, IT IS AN OFFENCE TO EMPLOY ANY PERSON WHO HAD NOT PRODUCED TO HIS EMPLOYER AN IDENTITY CARD, OR, IF HE WAS NOT NORMALLY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG, A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT, OR A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARD.

EXISTING EMPLOYEES ARE GIVEN A WEEK IN WHICH TO PRODUCE TO THE IR EMPLOYERS SUCH PROOF OF IDENTITY FAILURE ON THEIR PART TO DO SO WILL PROVIDE THE EMPLOYER WITH LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DISCHARGING THEM WITHOUT NOTICE OR LIABILITY FOR COMPENSATION.

/SIR JACK