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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1981
IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL
****
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO TIGHTEN UP EXISTING LEGISLATION DEALING WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
ON WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 9), AMENDING LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE THAT EXISTING MEASURES FOR THE REMOVAL OF UNLAWFUL ENTRANTS APPLY EQUALLY TO CHILDREN.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED TODAY THAT SINCE THE ENDING OF THE +REACHED BASE+ POLICY, A SMALL NUMBER OF CHILDREN HAD BEEN ENTER ING HONG KONG ILLEGALLY FROM CHINA. MOST OF THESE CHILDREN HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND BY THE IR PARENTS WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS OR ON THEIR OWN IN CHINA.
THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION HAD ALLOWED SUCH CHILDREN
TO STAY ON COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS.
RECENTLY, HOWEVER, IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT ORGANISED SYNDICATES ARE INVOLVED IN THE SMUGGLING OF FAR GREATER NUMBERS OF CHILDREN FROM CHINA INTO HONG KONG, AND THE NEW MEASURES WILL ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS ADEQUATE POWERS TO DEAL WITH THIS GROWING PROBLEM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+YOUNG CHILDREN ARE IN GENERAL LEGALLY PRESUMED TO BE INCAPABLE OF COMMITTING AN OFFENCE AND THIS COULD PRESENT CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY. FOR INSTANCE. IN PROSECUTING THE TRAFFICKERS WHO BRING THEM IN,+ HE
SAID.
THE BILL, PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE, ALSO INTRODUCES STIFF NEW PENALTIES AGAINST ANYONE FOUND GUILTY OF HARBOUR ING UNAUTHORISED ENTRANTS, INCLUDING CHILDREN.
UNDER THE BILL, A PERSON HARBOURING AN UNAUTHORISED ENTRANT TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG WILL BE LIABLE, ON CONVICTION ON INDICTMENT, TO A FINE OF $200 000 AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 10 YEARS AND ON SUMMARY CONVICTION, TO A FINE OF $100 000 AND THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT.
THE BILL ALSO,
*
AUTHOR ISES IMMIGRATION OFFICERS TO EXAMINE A PERSON AT ANY TIME IF HE HAS REASONABLE CAUSE FOR BELIEVING THAT SUCH A PERSON HAS LANDED UNLAWFULLY, AND
* MAKES IT CLEAR THAT A PERSON REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND
IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE REMOVED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.
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