XN000022-1989-02-22 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1989

DECLINE IN CRIMES COMMITTED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANY OVERALL INCREASE IN CRIMES COMMITTED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR BARNES SAID THAT WHILE THERE HAD BEEN SMALL INCREASES IN VIOLENT CRIMES, THERE HAD BEEN A 32 PER CENT DROP IN OVERALL REPORTED CRIME COMMITTED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, NOT INCLUDING SERIOUS IMMIGRATION OFFENCES.

"INCLUDING THE LATTER, THE DROP IS 34 PER CENT, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD DEEN REPORTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BEING IMPORTED BY LOCAL CRIMINAL GANGS, OR ARRIVING OF THEIR OWN VOLITION TO COMMIT CRIMES, HE WAS NOT AWARE OF EXTENSIVE PUBLIC CONCERN ON THE ISSUE.

MR BARNES SAID THAT EXTENSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE MEASURES INVOLVING SECURITY FORCES WERE EMPLOYED AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

"THESE INCLUDE CONSTANT VIGILANCE ON THE LAND BORDER, ROUND THE CLOCK MARITIME PATROLS BY THE MARINE POLICE AND THE ROYAL NAVY, ROAD BLOCKS AND IDENTITY CARD CHECKS BY THE POLICE AND SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL ACTION BY THE POLICE, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITHOUT IDENTITY CARDS.

"IN ADDITION, CLOSE LIAISON IS MAINTAINED BY THE POLICE WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN CHINA,

H HE SAID.

NOTING THAT HE WAS SATISFIED WITH THE

ACTION CURRENTLY BEING

TAKEN, MR BARNES SAID THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THESE MEASURES HAD BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THE PAST YEAR.

"DURING 1988, NEARLY 21,000 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WERE CAUGHT EITHER ENTERING THE TERRITORY OR SUBSEQUENTLY, AND IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR THE MONTHLY AVERAGE OF SUCH ARRESTS, AT 1,200, REPRESENTED A 50 PER CENT DECLINE OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1987.

"ANOTHER INDICATOR IS THE AVERAGE DAILY ARREST FIGURE WHICH SHOWS A DROP FROM 104 A DAY IN APRIL 1988 TO 29 A DAY SO FAR THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

"

COMBINED WITH THE OVERALL DROP IN THE CRIME FIGURES AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO RELAXATION OF EFFORT OR DEPLOYMENT BY THE SECURITY FORCES, MR BARNES SAID THERE WAS NO REASON TO SUPPOSE THAT THERE WAS ANY PARTICULAR DEFICIENCY IN THE MEASURES EMPLOYED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OR THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

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