XN000022-1982-12-16 — Page 9

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1982

IMMIGRATION OFFICERS TOLD TO BE GOODWILL ENVOYS TO VISITORS

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IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WERE URGED TODAY TO SERVE AS GOODWILL AMBASSADORS TO OVERSEAS VISITORS, WHO CONTRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY.

LAST YEAR, THESE VISITORS BROUGHT IN MORE THAN EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS, AND, DESPITE THE WORLD-WIDE RECESSION, THEY BROUGHT IN SOME FOUR BILLION FROM JANUARY TO JUNE THIS YEAR, MR ROGER LOBO SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TOLD 110 NEW IMMIGRATION RECRUITS.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT A PASSING OUT PARADE OF 63 ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, AND 47 IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS.

+FOR THESE VISITORS, YOU ARE USUALLY THE FIRST HONG KONG OFFICIALS WHOM THEY WILL MEET. I URGE YOU TO BE OUR AMBASSADORS OF GOODWILL AND MAKE THEM FEEL THAT THEY ARE REALLY WELCOME, MR LOBO SAID.

HE ALSO REMINDED THEM THAT IN DEALING WITH HONG KONG RESIDENTS DEPARTING FOR OTHER PLACES OR RETURNING FROM OVERSEAS TRIPS, THEY SHOULD PERFORM THEIR DUTIES CAREFULLY AND ALSO +WITH A SMILE.

HOWEVER, AS LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THEY SOMETIMES WOULD +HAVE TO SAY 'NO' FIRMLY, ALBEIT COURTEOUSLY+, HE TOLD THEM.

MR LOBO SAID THE NATURE OF IMMIGRATION WORK HAD BECOME MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN BEFORE. OFFICERS WOULD BE CALLED UPON TO HANDLE A WIDE RANGE OF DUTIES FROM THE ISSUE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS TO THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, FROM THE EXAMINATION OF PASSENGERS TO FIELD INVESTIGATIONS.

+THE IDENTITY CARD RE-ISSUE PROJECT DUE TO START IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR WILL PLACE FURTHER RESPONSIBILITIES ON YOUR SERVICE,+ HE SAID.

MR LOBO SAID THE NEW RECRUITS, WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED THREE MONTHS INTENSIVE TRAINING, HAD A CHALLENGING AND REWARDING CAREER AHEAD OF THEM.