XN000022-1986-01-12 — Page 5

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 1986

VESSELS CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FACE SEIZURE

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THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF VESSELS USED TO SMUGGLE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO HONG KONG ARE TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED OF THE SEVERE PUNISHMENT PUT IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE NOTE OF WARNING WAS SOUNDED BY THE CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER (PROSECUTIONS AND DEPORTATIONS) OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION DIVISION, MR MAK KWAI-YUN, AFTER CERTAIN ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PROVISIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE WERE RECENTLY EXTENDED FOR 12 MONTHS UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.

UNDER THE PROVISIONS, THE OFFENDERS ARE LIABLE TO CONVICTION OF A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 MILLION AND LIFE IMPRISONMENT.

MR MAK SAID A TOTAL OF 22 VESSEL OWNERS OR OPERATORS HAD BEEN PROSECUTED FOR CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OR ARRANGING THE IR ENTRY INTO HONG KONG DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS AND ALL OF THEM ARE NOW SERVING JAIL SENTENCE RANGING FROM TWO YEARS TO FIVE-AND-A-HALF YEARS.

+NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE FINED AND JAILED, THE VESSELS USED IN SUCH CRIMES MAY ALSO BE FORFEITED IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THEIR OWNERS OR OPERATORS WERE CONVICTED, + HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT SINCE 1979, A TOTAL OF 102 VESSELS INCLUDING JUNKS SPEED BOATS AND SAMPANS HAD BEEN SEIZED OF WHICH 83 WERE FORFEITED TO THE CROWN.

MR MAK ALSO REMINDED THAT ARRANGING ANY PERSON INTO HONG KONG EVEN FOR A SHORT STAY AND WHETHER OR NOT FOR PECUNIARY ADVANTAGES, IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.

CITING AN EXAMPLE HE SAID A FISH-FARM OPERATOR IN LAU FAU SHAN WAS RECENTLY SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT AND FINED $5 000 FOR BRINGING IN A GIRL FROM CHINA TO WORK FOR HIM FOR A FEW DAYS.

WOMEN BORN 1943-46 TO GET NEW I.D. CARD *****

WOMEN BORN BETWEEN 1943 AND 1946 WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR THE NEW I.D. CARD BETWEEN TOMORROW (MONDAY) AND FEBRUARY 7.

THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF AN EIGHT-STAGE REPLACEMENT I.D. CYCLE FOR WOMEN WHICH WILL CONTINUE FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS.

CARD

IT FOLLOWS CLOSELY THE SECOND MALE CYCLE WHICH ENDED YESTERDAY (SATURDAY).

/A MIGRATION