XN000022-1989-11-17 — Page 26

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1989

TURNING TO THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING, MR YIF SAID DESPITE THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS, ONE SHOULD NOT BE COMPLACENT BUT SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE UPHILL BATTLE.

"THE IMPETUS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING (RECOVERY OF PROCEEDS} ORDINANCE WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR HAS LED ΤΟ THE INVESTIGATION OF SEVEN SERIOUS DRUG TRAFFICKING CASES AND THE FREEZING OF ABOUT $5 MILLION OF ASSETS BY THE COURTS.

"THIS AMOUNT MAY SEEM SMALL, BUT IT IS A GOOD START FOR THE 30- STRONG FINANCIAL INVESTIGATION GROUP WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ON THE TREMENDOUS WORKLOAD IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS," MR YIP SAID.

TRAVELLERS URGED TO GET DOCUMENTS EARLY

* * * * *

THE CHRISTMAS

HAS ADVISED PEOPLE INTENDING то

TO HOLIDAYS

APPLY FOR TRAVEL

THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ABROAD DURING DOCUMENTS NOW.

"THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVELLING

OUTSIDE HONG

KONG WILL BE A LAST GREATLY INCREASED AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR. IN ORDER TO AVOID MINUTE

ARE RUSH. PEOPLE

ADVISED

A TO APPLY FOR

OR PASSPORT DATE ON WHICH THEY 'CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE

DEPARTMENT IMMIGRATION INTEND TO TRAVEL." A SPOKESMAN FOR

SAID

THE

TODAY (FRIDAY).

"THE DEPARTMENT NOW TAKES 20 WORKING DAYS (I.E. APPROXIMATELY FOUR WEEKS TO ISSUE A BRITISH

DAYS

(1.E.

APPROXIMATELY CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY.

THREE

HONG KONG

WEEKS)

PASSPORT TO ISSUE

AND

A

HONG

15 WORKING KONG

APPLICANT

CERTIFICATE OF

BRITISH "HOWEVER, THE PROCESSING TIME FOR AN APPLICATION FOR A NATIONAL (OVERSEAS PASSPORT OR A HONG KONG

IDENTITY

IS ABOUT FIVE WEEKS IF THE

IS NOT IN POSSESSION OF A

SAME TIME, PERMANENT IDENTITY CARD. FOR HE HAS TO OBTAIN ONE AT THE THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

H

FOR VISA PURPOSES RE-ENTRY PERMITS AND DOCUMENTS OF IDENTITY

DELAY WAS LIKELY IF WERE NORMALLY ISSUED ON THE SAME DAY BUT

THERE

THE SAME WERE MANY APPLICANTS COMING AT

TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, ON A

SATURDAY.

BUSIEST TIME

OF THE

MEET

ANY

SPOKESMAN

"THE PERIOD BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS IS THE OF THE YEAR. APPLYING EARLY WILL NOT ONLY SPREAD THE WORKLOAD

APPLICANTS EXTRA

то TIME DEPARTMENT BUT WILL ALSO GIVE

THE FURTHER VISA PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS WHERE NECESSARY." ADDED.

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