XN000022-1988-05-18 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1988

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JOINT ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATION MOUNTED

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A TERRITORY-WIDE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATION JOINTLY MOUNTED BY THE POLICE, AND THE LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS EARLY THIS WEEK HAS RESULTED IN THE ARRESTS OF 125 PERSONS.

THE OPERATION WAS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO FLUSH OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

OF THE ARRESTED PERSONS, 100 WERE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT AT THE BORDER. THEY HAVE BEEN SENT TO SAN UK LING FOR REPATRIATION.

IMMIGRATION

THE REMAINING 25 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.

TO

THE OPERATION ALSO LED TO THE DETENTION OF FOUR PERSONS WHO WERE SUSPECTED TO BE AIDERS AND ABETTERS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REITERATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

THAT THERE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE

"OUR LATEST OPERATION SHOULD DRIVE HOME THE POINT WILL BE NO CHANGE TO THIS POLICY, ANYONE FOOLISH OTHERWISE IS ONLY CHEATING HIMSELF, HE SAID.

"

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

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

DURING THE JOINT OPERATION, WHICH BEGAN AT 5 AM ON MONDAY (MAY 16) AND ENDED THIS MORNING, THE POLICE HAD STEPPED UP THEIR AT IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND CARRIED OUT CHECKS SUSPICIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.

AS RESULT, A TOTAL OF 30,270 PERSONS, 3,468 VEHICLES AND 1,871 VESSELS WERE STOPPED FOR IDENTIFICATTON CHECKS.

A TOTAL OF 27 PERSONS WERE PROSECUTED FOR FAILING PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER SEVEN WERE WARNED OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1,000.

ANOTHER SEVEN PERSONS WERE ARRESTED FOR IDENTITY CARDS WHICH DO NOT BELONG TO THEM.

ALLEGEDLY

TO PRODUCE RESPECT IN

POSSESSING

/ON THE