XN000022-1988-11-30 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1988

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD JUST COMPLETED A REVIEW OF THE SECTION AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT THE OPERATION OF THE LOCAL MEDIA HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY IT IN ANY WAY.

"THE MEDIA HAS CONTINUED TO REPORT FREELY, HAS REMAINED FORTHRIGHT, AND HONG KONG HAS CONTINUED TO ENJOY ONE OF THE FREEST PRESSES IN THE WORLD. THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED IN 1986 IN SUPPORT OF THE PROMULGATION OF SECTION 27 REMAIN VALID.

"HOWEVER DESPITE THIS BACKGROUND, A DIFFERENT PUBLIC PERCEPTION HAS ARISEN IN THAT THE LAW WAS SEEN AS A MEANS TO RESTRICT THE PRESS. THIS WAS NEVER THE INTENTION," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT THEREFORE TOOK THE VIEW THAT RETENTION OF SECTION 27 WOULD BE LIKELY TO CAUSE CONCERN TO THE PUBLIC OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY OF KEEPING THE PROVISION.

BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE

OVERSEAS, THERE HAD ALSO

POSITION.

"IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THESE FACTORS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO SEEK THE REPEAL OF SECTION 27 OF THE ORDINANCE AS A LOGICAL FINAL STEP OF THE PROCESS OF LIBERALISING CONTROL OVER PUBLICATIONS, STARTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TWO YEARS AGO, HE SAID.

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JOINT ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATION MOUNTED

A TERRITORY-WIDE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OPERATION JOINTLY MOUNTED BY THE POLICE, AND THE LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) HAS RESULTED IN THE ARRESTS OF 90 PERSONS.

THE OPERATION WAS PART OF THE

TO FLUSH OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUOUS EFFORT

OF THE ARRESTED PERSONS, 15 WERE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT AT THE BORDER. THEY HAVE BEEN SENT TO SAN UK LING FOR REPATRIATION.

THE REMAINING 75 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.

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

"OUR LATEST

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