XN000022-1985-12-07 — Page 4

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1985

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EFFORTS CONTINUE TO TRACK DOWN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

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THE DRAGNET ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HIDING IN HONG KONG WAS FURTHER TIGHTENED UP THIS WEEK AS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPED UP OPERATIONS TO FERRET THEM OUT.

THE BLITZ BY THE POLICE, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS RESULTED IN THE ARREST OF 41 SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND CITIZENS.

ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES AND THOSE CONFIRMED TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN AGAIN STRESSED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

+THIS WEEK'S OPERATION SHOULD AGAIN MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE +WHENEVER WILL BE NO CHANGE IN OUR IMMIGRATION POLICY, HE SAID. AND WHEREVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE FOUND, THEY WILL BE SENT BACK.

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT APART FROM CONTINUOUS CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, THERE WAS NO LET-UP IN ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EFFORTS AT THE BORDER.

+THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE AT THE LAND AND SEA BORDER, HE SAID.

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

THEY ARRESTED 37 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. ANOTHER 66 PEOPLE WERE SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER FIVE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.

ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 6 636 ESTABLISHMENTS TO CHECKS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MIGHT BE WORKING THERE, AND TO ENSURE EMPLOYERS FULFIL THE IR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

A TOTAL OF 11 068 EMPLOYEES WERE CHECKED AND FOUR PERSONS IN FOUR ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY. THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

ANOTHER 27 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.

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