XN000022-1982-03-27 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1982

CHECKS ON II'S STEPPED UP :

AMNESTY RUMOURS FALSE, SAYS GOVERNMENT

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SIXTY-SIX PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF BEING HERE ILLEGALLY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR INVESTIGATION, AS ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES CONTINUE.

IN ANOTHER JOINT OPERATION BY THE POLICE, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS DURING THE PAST THREE ́DAYS, MORE THAN 90 000 PEOPLE WERE CHECKED FOR IDENTIFICATION AND 8 880 ESTABLISHMENTS VISITED.

THE OPERATION FORMED PART OF THE ONGOING TERRITORY-WIDE EFFORT AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

+AND THERE WILL BE NO LET UP IN THIS EFFORT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WARNED.

*THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE POLICE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH VIGILANCE, AND CONTRARY TO RUMOURS THAT MIGHT BE CIRCULATING IN GUANGZHOU THERE IS NOT THE SLIGHTEST INTENTION WHATSOEVER OF ANY SORT OF AMNESTY BEING GRANTED, HE STRESSED.

DURING THE OPERATION, POLICE INCREASED THEIR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLAČES AND ALSO CARRIED OUT SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN SUSPECT AREAS AND LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

POLICE ARRESTED 10 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH FORGED IDENTITY CARDS, ANOTHER 398 PERSONS WERE SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER 375 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.

ON THE LABOUR FRONT, LABOUR INSPECTORS VISITED 8 880 ESTABLISHMENTS TO WEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO MAY BE WORKING, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULFILL THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

LABOUR INSPECTORS FOUND 19 PEOPLE IN 16 ESTABLISHMENTS WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY. THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

A TOTAL OF 114 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND NOT TO BE KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO $50 000 AND BE JAILED FOR UP TO A YEAR IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THEY ALSO RISKED A $10 000 FINE IF THEY FAILED TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE RECORDS OF EACH OF THEIR EMPLOYEES LISTING THE EMPLOYEE'S NAME, TYPE OF IDENTITY DOCUMENT AND THE NUMBER OF THE DOCUMENT.

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