XN000022-1986-04-19 — Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1986

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CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS STEPPED UP

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ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HIDING IN HONG KONG AGAIN FELT THE HEAT THIS WEEK AS 10 SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED IN STEPPED-UP OPERATIONS BY THE POLICE, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS.

THE BLITZ IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ONGOING EFFORTS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

ALL THE ARRESTED PERSONS HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED AGAIN TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

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

HE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO SLACKENING IN THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EFFORTS.

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

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.

THEY ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. ANOTHER 48 PEOPLE WERE SUMMONSED OR CHARGED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER SEVEN WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 000.

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ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 7 212 ESTABLISHMENTS TO WEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE WORKING IN THEM, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULFILLED THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

A TOTAL OF 12 285 EMPLOYEES WERE CHECKED AND EIGHT PERSONS IN SIX ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY. THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION,

ANOTHER 41 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE KEEPING NO RECORD 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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