XN000022-1981-07-08 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1981

ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES TO STAY

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FORGERS AND THOSE BRINGING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE PURSUED RELENTLESSLY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES, WARNED TODAY.

AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE ALL POSSIBLE AND PRACTICABLE STEPS TO REDUCE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, HE STRESSED.

+ IT WILL MAINTAIN THE SECURITY FORCES ON THE BORDER TO ARREST PERSONS ON ENTRY. SHOULD PERSONS EVADE ARREST THEY WILL BE SOUGHT OUT IN THE URBAN AREAS AND AIDERS AND ABETTERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE IDENTIFIED AND PROSECUTED, HE SAID.

MR DAVIES GAVE THE WARNING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL WHICH, TOGETHER WITH THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL AND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL, PROVIDE TOUGHER PENALTIES AGAINST THE MANUFACTURE OR USE OF FORGED IDENTITY CARDS, OR OTHER DOCUMENTS OF PROOF OF IDENTITY.

HE NOTED THAT THE MEASURES INTRODUCED LAST OCTOBER FOLLOWING THE ABOLITION OF THE SO-CALLED REACHED BASE+ POLICY, HAD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER, AND HAD MADE IT EASIER FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DETECT EVADERS.

INEVITABLY, HOWEVER, DEMAND FOR FORGED IDENTITY DOCUMENTS HAD INCREASED.

BETWEEN OCTOBER 23, 1980 AND MAY 31 THIS YEAR, HE SAID, 127 IDENTITY CARDS, 99 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND 50 DRIVING LICENCES HAD BEEN FOUND TO BE FORGED, RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF 186 PEOPLE.

UNDER THE THREE BILLS, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR FORGING IDENTITY CARDS IS DOUBLED FROM SEVEN YEARS TO 14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT. THE SAME APPLIES TO DOCUMENTS ISSUED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE, TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CARDS.

ANY PERSON FOUND IN POSSESSION OF ANYTHING FIT AND INTENDED FOR USE IN FORGERY WOULD BE LIABLE TO 14 YEARS IN JAIL. THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN ANY PROCEEDINGS FOR THIS NEW OFFENCE WOULD BE ON THE ACCUSED.

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR POSSESSION WITHOUT LAWFUL EXCUSE OF FORGED IDENTITY CARDS OR OTHER DOCUMENTS ISSUED UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE IS TO BE RAISED FROM TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $5 000 TO SEVEN YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A $50 000 FINE UPON CONVICTION ON INDICTMENT, OR TO TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AND A FINE OF $20 000 ON SUMMARY CONVICTION.

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