XN000022-1992-11-04 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1992

THIS GROWTH IN TRAFFIC HAS NOT BEEN MATCHED BY A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN RESOURCES, HE SAID.

"THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCTIVITY," HE SAID.

DESPITE THESE DIFFICULTIES, MR STANDARD WAS STILL ACHIEVED FOR 90% OF WEEKDAYS.

THEREFORE HAD ΤΟ IMPROVE

STRACHAN SAID THE ABOVE THE PASSENGERS ON NORMAL

ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS WHEN THE TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY HEAVY, 65% OF THE PASSENGERS ARE CLEARED WITHIN 45 MINUTES, HE ADDED.

AS FOR THE HOLDERS OF ONE-WAY PERMITS, MR STRACHAN SAID THEY WERE PROCESSED AT THE DESIGNATED EXAMINATION AREA (PERMIT OFFICE) BECAUSE THEY WERE COMING FOR SETTLEMENT AND WERE THEREFORE TO A DIFFERENT AND MORE DETAILED SET OF PROCEDURES.

SUBJECT

OVERSEAS

IN

MEMBERS OF CHINESE TOUR GROUPS FOR HONG KONG OR ORGANISED BY DESIGNATED TRAVEL AGENTS AND HOLDERS OF CHINESE PASSPORTS IN TRANSIT TO OTHER DESTINATIONS ARE CLEARED AT THE PERMIT OFFICE ORDER TO ESTABLISH THEIR BONA FIDE AS VISITORS AND ΤΟ ENSURE THAT SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THEIR VISIT TO/TRANSIT THROUGH HONG KONG.

HE SAID: "GIVEN THE EXTRA STEPS LONGER TIME THAN AT THE COUNTER.

REQUIRED,

CLEARANCE TAKES

THE CORRESPONDING WAITING TIME FOR PASSENGERS FROM CHINA BEING CLEARED VARIES FROM 1 TO 3 HOURS.

HE NOTED THAT THE WAITING TIME WAS OFTEN AFFECTED BY THE VERY UNEVEN FLOW OF TRAFFIC OF TWO-WAY PERMIT VISITORS.

"THE MAJORITY ARE CLEARED WITHIN 90 MINUTES,

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HE ADDED.

GOVT WORKING TO MAXIMISE EASE OF TRAVEL OF ALL RESIDENTS

*

THE GOVERNMENT HAS WORKED CONSISTENTLY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WHICH PRESENTLY REQUIRE HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO HAVE VISAS TO VISIT THEM, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR IAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

STRACHAN, SAID

"WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE REALISTICALLY THAT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE IMMIGRATION OR POPULATION CONTROL PROBLEMS WHICH THEY CONSIDER REQUIRE THEM ΤΟ IMPOSE VISA RESTRICTIONS ON MOST IF NOT ALL VISITORS, MR STRACHAN SAID.

NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ ARGUE STRONGLY FOR OPENING OF TRAVEL AS IT DID

OPENING OF TRADE

FOR

EVERYWHERE.

/IN A