XN000022-1993-03-03 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993

WAYS ON HAND TO CURB ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLANS TO PREVENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS PEGGY LAM AT

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID THESE INCLUDED:

* SEEKING TO PREVENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (II) FROM CROSSING THE

BORDER;

MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIND WORK HERE BY IMPOSING PENALTIES FOR WORKING ILLEGALLY HERE OR EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THE GOVERNMENT IS ASKING THE COURT OF APPEAL TO SET A HIGHER PENALTY FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS;

STEPPING UP MEASURES, WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S CO-OPERATION, ON CONTRACTORS CAUGHT EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS;

THE POLICE AND THE IMMIGRATION AND LABOUR DEPARTMENTS ARE STEPPING UP THEIR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND OPERATIONS. THE POLICE, IN ADDITION TO ENHANCE BORDER AND MARINE OPERATIONS, HAVE SET UP A SPECIAL QUICK REACTION FORCE ΤΟ DEAL WITH SITUATIONS WHEN REPORTS OF SUSPECTED II'S ARE RECEIVED;

津 REGULAR OPERATIONS TO SEARCH FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE CONDUCTED AT KNOWN BLACK SPOTS, SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION SITES, FARMS AND FACTORIES; AND

EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT THE RECENT ANNUAL BORDER LIAISON REVIEW MEETING WITH THE GUANGDONG AUTHORITIES.

MR ASPREY SAID LIAISON AND CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WAS GOOD, ADDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED ΤΟ RAISE CONCERN WITH THE CHINESE SIDE AT A HIGHER LEVEL. CITING THE MOST RECENT INCREASE IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

ITS

THE POLICE ALSO HAVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN CHINA ON CRIME RELATED ISSUES AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR TOPICS ON THE AGENDA.

ON PUBLICITY, MR ASPREY SAID TWO NEW ANTI-II EMPLOYMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AIMING AT RECRUITING MORE SUPPORT FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, WERE BEING SHOWN ON TELEVISION FROM THIS WEEK.

POSTERS AND HAND-OUTS WERE ALSO PROVIDED ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, WHERE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF RECENT II'S WERE FOUND, HE SAID.

THE POLICE WOULD ALSO STEP UP THEIR ACTION ΤΟ CATCH THOSE INVOLVED IN SUCH SYNDICATED EMPLOYMENT OF II'S, MR ASPREY ADDED.