XN000022-1990-02-14 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990

CATEGORY III

MR TSAO ADDED THAT THE NUMBER OF CINEMAS SHOWING FILMS VARIED BETWEEN NINE PER CENT AND 33 PER CENT AND THE SITUATION WAS AFFECTED BY THE SUPPLY AND THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE FILMS.

"THE CURRENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN FORCE FOR JUST OVER A YEAR. I DOUBT IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN SUCH A SHORT TIME TO ASSESS WHETHER AND WHAT SOCIAL IMPACT CATEGORY III FILMS HAVE HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY.

"WE ARE, HOWEVER, SATISFIED THAT THE TWIN OBJECTS OF THE FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, THAT IS A WIDER CHOICE FOR THE ADULTS AND THE PROTECTION OF MINORS, ARE BEING ACHIEVED," HE SAID.

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ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES PROVED SUCCESSFUL

THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES HAVE PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN CURBING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT INTEND TO REVIEW ITS EXISTING POLICIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON ELSIE TU, MR BARNES SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS REGARDED BY MOST COUNTRIES AS A SERIOUS OFFENCE AND THAT IN THE PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS PARTICULARLY TO STRENGTHEN ANTI- ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES.

"THESE INCLUDE THE PROSECUTION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WHO HAVE COMMITTED OFFENCES UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE BY LANDING OR REMAINING IN HONG KONG WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE APPROPRIATE IMMIGRATION AUTHORITY

FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO EVADE CAPTURE ON ENTRY AND WHO ARE LATER FOUND AT PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.

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MR BARNES SAID ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WHETHER FROM CHINA OR ANYWHERE ELSE, HAD THE SAME RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS ANY OTHER PERSON BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS.

"THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA IMPRISONED IN KONG AT ANY ONE TIME VARIES ACCORDING TO THE LEVEL OF PROSECUTIONS AND THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS RELEASED FOR REPATRIATION ΤΟ

HONG

CHINA.

"IN THE 12 MONTHS UP TO THE END OF 1989, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA ACCOUNTED FOR SOME 25 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL PRISON POPULATION," HE SAID.

THE SECRETARY ADDED THAT EVEN THOUGH PRESSURES ON PRISON ACCOMMODATION REMAINED SERIOUS, THERE HAD RECENTLY BEEN SOME REDUCTION AND THE OCCUPANCY RATE HAD DROPPED FROM A HIGH OF 130.5 PER CENT LAST OCTOBER TO 123.8 PER CENT AT THE END OF LAST MONTH.

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