XN000022-1985-06-08 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1985

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE AND THE SECURITY FORCES BOTH AT THE LAND AND SEA BORDER.

+OUR POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS VERY CLEAR. WHENEVER AND WHEREVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE FOUND IN HONG KONG, THEY WILL BE SENT BACK.

+OUR LATEST OPERATION SHOULD DRIVE HOME THE POINT THAT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HONG KONG, HE STRESSED.

DURING THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OPERATION, POLICE INCREASED THE IR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND CARRIED OUT CHECKS AT SUSPECT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

THESE CHECKS RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF 37 SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND CITIZENS. ANOTHER FIVE PERSONS WERE CHARGED FOR FAILING TO CARRY PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, WHILE 82 OTHERS WERE SUMMONSED FOR THE SAME OFFENCE. A FURTHER 35 PERSONS WERE WARNED BY THE POLICE IN RESPECT OF THE OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.

ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 6 821 ESTABLISHMENTS TO WEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE WORKING, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULFIL THE IR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

A TOTAL OF 14 858 EMPLOYEES WERE CHECKED AND 10 PERSONS IN 10 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY. THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

ANOTHER 32 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE KEEPING EITHER

NO RECORD OR IMPROPER RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO $50 000 AND JAILED FOR UP TO A YEAR IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

TWO JAPANESE SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED

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TWO JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MONBUSHO) SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BEING OFFERED TO HONG KONG STUDENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES IN SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES AND NATURAL SCIENCE IN JAPAN.

APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MONBUSHO) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME, 1986 AND APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE OVERSEAS STUDIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

/COMPLETED FORMS