XN000022-1983-10-05 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1983*

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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE SENT BACK

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THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE SECURITY FORCES WILL NOT BE RELAXED, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+WE WILL CONTINUE TO APPREHEND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND THEY WILL BE SENT BACK,+ SIR EDWARD SAID IN HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AND WELCOME REDUCTION IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUED VIGILANCE OF THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE FIRM ADMINISTRATION OF THE REPATRIATION POLICY.

+A VALUABLE ADDITIONAL DETERRENT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS THE INTRODUCTION IN MAY OF THE NEW, MORE SECURE IDENTITY CARD WHICH SHOULD ELIMINATE THE FORGED CARDS ON WHICH MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DEPEND,+ HE SAID.

+SO FAR, OVER 650 000 NEW CARDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED: ALL MEN UNDER 35 SHOULD HAVE NEW CARDS BY MAY 1984, + HE ADDED.

SIR EDWARD SAID THE SMUGGLING OF YOUNG CHILDREN BY TRAFFICKERS, WHO HAVE LITTLE REGARD FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR PASSENGERS, HAD BEEN OF PARTICULAR CONCERN TO THE GOVERNMENT.

+WE ARE CO-OPERATING WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES SO THAT, TOGETHER, WE MAY PUT A STOP TO THIS DEPLORABLE AND DANGEROUS TRAFFIC,+ HE SAID.

ON THE PROPERLY REGULATED SCHEME FOR VISITORS FROM CHINA, SIR EDWARD SAID NEW ARRANGEMENTS, INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 1982 AND AGREED WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN CHINA, HAD WORKED WELL.

+THE GREAT MAJORITY OF VISITORS HAVE RETURNED TO CHINA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE IR VISIT PERMITS,+ HE SAID.

+THE FEW WHO OVERSTAY ARE DETECTED SOONER OR LATER AND ARE REPATRIATED.+

ON THE PROBLEM OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, SIR EDWARD SAID THEY HAD CONTINUED TO ARRIVE DESPITE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CLOSED CENTRES IN JULY 1982.

+THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS HAS FALLEN 3 900 IN THE 12 MONTHS SEPTEMBER 1983 AS COMPARED WITH 8 220 IN THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS, + HE SAID. +BUT SO TOO HAVE THE NUMBERS LEAVING FOR RESETTLEMENT : 3 844 AS AGAINST 10 155 OVER THE TWO PERIODS. +

+ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR THERE WERE 13 462 IN CAMPS HERE AS COMPARED WITH 12 700 A YEAR AGO.

/+50 FAR