XN000022-1981-12-09 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981

ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION LAW STRENGTHENED

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THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT)(NO. 4) BILL WHICH STRENGTHENS THE GOVERNMENT'S LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO DEAL WITH THE OBNOXIOUS AND ILLEGAL TRADE BY SNAKEHEADS SMUGGLING CHILDREN FROM CHINA INTO HONG KONG WAS PASSED INTO LAW BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

INTRODUCING THE BILL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS SAID THE SPEEDY ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL AND THE NATURE OF ITS PROVISIONS, SHOULD RECONFIRM GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO TAKE THE FIRMEST POSSIBLE ACTION AGAINST TRAFFICKERS IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, MR GRIFFITHS SAID.

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INDEED, HE ADDED, 17 CASES INVOLVING SOME 35 ACCUSED ERSONS ARE CURRENTLY PROCEEDING IN THE COURTS AGAINST TRAFFICKERS AND AIDERS AND A BETTORS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

MR GRIFFITHS RECALLED THAT THE MEASURES INTRODUCED ON OCTOBER 23 LAST YEAR WERE DESIGNED TO BRING HOME TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNES THE FUTILITY OF ATTEMPTING TO ENTER HONG KONG ILLEGALLY, FOR EVEN IF THEY EVADE THE SECURITY NET ON THE BORDER, THEY ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN WORK HERE WITHOUT POSSESSING AN ID CARD AND ARE REPATRIATED AT ONCE AS SOON AS THEY ARE APPREHENDED IN THE URBAN AREAS.+

+THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE FULLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS NEW POLICY, DESPITE THE INEVITABLE INCONVENIENCE IT HAS CAUSED SOME OF THEM FROM TIME TO TIME, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE MEASURES ALSO HAD MANIFESTLY HAD BENÉFICIAL EFFECTS ON THE SCALE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

EXPERIENCE DURING THE PAST YEAR HAD, HOWEVER REVEALED A

SMALL GAP IN THE LAW WHICH THE BILL WOULD CLOSE.

HE EXPLAINED THAT RECENTLY IT HAD COME TO LIGHT THAT ORGANISED SYNDICATES OF SNAKEHEADS HAVE BEEN PREYING ON FAMILIES AND, IN EFFECT, TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN, WHOM THEY SMUGGLE INTO HONG KONG ON BEHALF OF RELATIVES.

MR GRIFFITHS CITED SEVERAL FEATURES OF THIS OBNOXIOUS AND ILLEGAL TRADE:

* IT IS ORGANISED BY SNAKEHEADS WHO CYNICALLY FOR MONEY HAVE

BEEN PREYING UPON THE FAMILY LOYALTY OF RELATIVES-

* FREQUENTLY WHERE THIS HAS OCCURRED THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE

RELATIVE IN HONG KONG, THE WIFE STILL REMAINING IN CHINA-

* IN SUCH CASES, THOSE WHO CAME ILLEGALLY TO HONG KONG PRIOR

TO OCTOBER 23, 1980 HAD IN FACT DECIDED OF THEIR OWN VOLITION TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES BEHIND AND COME TO HONG KONG ALONE- AND

* WHILE IT WAS NOT KNOWN HOW MANY OF THOSE NOW LIVING LEG

IN HONG KONG HAD LEFT BEHIND WIVES AND CHILDREN IN CHIN. OR HOW MANY THESE TOTAL, THE NUMBER LEFT BEHIND IN CHINA IS UNDOUBTEDLY LARGE,

Y

+APART SACH