XN000022-1984-12-04 — Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1984

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SIR PHILIP CONDEMNS SNAKEHEADS' ACTIONS

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THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE REITERATED CATEGORICALLY TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROSPECT WHATSOEVER OF AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OF ANY AGE OR SEX.

HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE SMUGGLING OF CHILD ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHEN HE TALKED TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING.

+THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS DISGUSTED WITH THIS TRADE, AND DISTRESSED TOO+, HE SAID.

+ I CANNOT CONDEMN TOO STRONGLY THE ACTION OF THESE SNAKEHEADS WHO SO HEARTLESSLY MISLED THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN AND INDEED ARE PREPARED TO EXPLOIT ANY SITUATION FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT.

+THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS CONVEYED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ON A NUMBER OF OCCASSIONS ITS CONCERN TO SEE THIS DANGEROUS AND INHUMAN PRACTICE STOPPED. THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES SHARE THIS CONCERN.+

SIR PHILIP REAFFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING IT COULD TO STOP THIS PRACTICE.

+ IN THIS CONNECTION I SHOULD LIKE TO RESTATE CATEGORICALLY THAT THERE IS NO PROSPECT WHATSOEVER OF ANY AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OF ANY AGE OR SEX AND NO-ONE SHOULD BELIEVE THE RUMOURS OF AN AMNESTY PUT ABOUT BY THE SNAKEHEADS IN AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE THEIR DISREPUTABLE TRADE.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT PENALTIES FOR SNAKEHEADS WERE SEVERE INDEED AND HOPED THAT THE AUTHORITIES WOULD MANAGE TO ARREST THOSE RESPONSIBLE AND BRING THEM TO COURT.

+CHILDREN CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF COMING INTO HONG KONG ARE AUTOMATICALLY RETURNED, HE SAID.

+ IF THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SOMETIME, THEN OBVIOUSLY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS APPLY, HE ADDED.

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