XN000022-1992-01-23 — Page 10

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1992

THE PORT OF HONG KONG

TERRITORY'S TRADE.

HANDLES ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF THE

"IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A KEY FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. WE PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO PLAY THIS VITAL ROLE," MR MILLER SAID.

OVERSTAYERS ARREST

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IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATORS YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON ARRESTED 12 TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS FOR OVERSTAYING AND TAKING UP UNAPPROVED EMPLOYMENT.

THIS FOLLOWED THE ARREST OF TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND 20 TWO- WAY PERMIT VISITORS FOR BREACH OF CONDITION OF STAY DURING A 24-HOUR OPERATION STARTING IN THE MORNING OF JANUARY 21.

WERE

DURING THE OPERATION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, FIVE FACTORIES VISITED. IMMIGRATION OFFICERS CONDUCTED IDENTITY CHECKS ON 284 PERSONS.

THE 12 VISITORS FROM CHINA, NINE FEMALES AND THREE MEN AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 40, ARE ALL NATIVES OF FUJIAN.

ELEVEN OF THEM WERE INTERCEPTED IN A GARMENT FACTORY IN TSUEN WAN. APART FROM A FEMALE WHO IS WITHIN HER LIMIT OF STAY IN HONG KONG, THE REST HAVE OVERSTAYED HERE. THEY ADMITTED TO HAVE TAKEN UP UNAPPROVED EMPLOYMENT AT THE FACTORY AT AN HOURLY WAGE OF $10.

THE REMAINING TWO-WAY PERMIT VISITOR IS ALSO AN OVERSTAYER. SHE WAS CAUGHT WORKING IN A GARMENT FACTORY IN KWUN TONG.

FOUR HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO ARE SUSPECTED TO BE THE EMPLOYERS OF THIS GROUP OF VISITORS ARE ASSISTING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT REMINDED VISITORS THAT THEY MUST LEAVE HONG KONG WITHIN THEIR LIMIT OF STAY IMPOSED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE UP ANY EMPLOYMENT, WHETHER PAID OR UNPAID, WITHOUT THE PERMISSION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.

THOSE WHO BREACH THEIR CONDITION OF STAY HERE ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND UPON CONVICTION, TO A FINE OF $5,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.

PEOPLE WHO AID AND ABET OTHERS TO COMMIT THESE OFFENCES ARE ALSO LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND PENALTY,

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