XN000022-1982-11-20 — Page 2

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1982

ANTI- DRIVE STEPPED UP

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THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NET PULLED TIGHTER THIS WEEK AS THE POLICE, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS LAUNCHED ANOTHER SPECIAL OPERATION TO FERRET OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

MORE THAN 77 000 PEOPLE WERE CHECKED FOR IDENTIFICATION AND 9 640 ESTABLISHMENTS VISITED, DURING THE THREE-DAY OPERATION.

FIFTY-THREE PERSONS SUSPECTED OF BEING HERE ILLEGALLY WERE TURNED UP AND REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.

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

*THIS EFFORT HAS BY NO MEANS SLACKENED, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY). +ON THE CONTRARY, THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE POLICE CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE BOTH AT THE BORDER AND THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

+THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HONG KONG AND THEY WILL BE SENT BACK, HE STRESSED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO DISCOUNTED THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AMNESTY WHEN THE FIRST BATCH OF THE REPLACEMENT IDENTITY CARDS WILL BE

ISSUED NEXT YEAR.

+AS THE GOVERNOR SAID IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF AN AMNESTY, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID,

+ANYONE FOOLISHLY HOPING FOR THAT IS ONLY DELUDING HIMSELF AND OTHERS.+

DURING THE SPECIAL OPERATION, POLICE STEPPED UP THE IR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND ALSO CARRIED OUT SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN SUSPECT AREAS AND LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

THEY ARRESTED 14 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH FORGED IDENTITY CARDS. ANOTHER 384 PERSONS WERE SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER 218 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.

ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 9 640 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.

TWENTY-SIX PERSONS IN 26 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY. THEY TOO HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR INVESTIGATION,

/ONE HUNDRED