CONFIDENTIAL
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機密
XCC(76)82
(d) The efficiency of the Immigration Department will
suffer if it takes on additional responsibilities.
Comment
It is doubtful if this argument can be sustained; indeed members of the public should benefit from a more efficient service as overlapping and repetition of work by two departments could be avoided.
(e) Illegal immigrants regard the Registration of Persons Department as a kind of haven. On the other hand regard the Immigration Department as an organisation which may be instrumental in removing them from Hong Kong.
Comment
The apparent absorption of the haven into the Immigration Department may discourage illegal immigrants from coming forward to register. On the other hand it is not proposed that there should be any change in the policy for dealing with illegal immigrants and the Working Party has also put forward recommendations which would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to live here without an identity card. This problem is one that could be overcome by effective communications with the public.
13
The Working Party concluded, and the Corruption Prevention Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption agreed, that the arguments in favour of amalgamation appeared to be convincing.
Financial Implications
14
The immediate financial implications of amalgamating the two departments are set out in paragraph 6 of Appendix III of the Working Party's Report. If Honourable Members advise that the proposals contained in this paper should be implemented the financial implications will be con- sidered by the Finance Committee in the usual way.
Public Relations
15
The Director of Home Affairs was represented on the Working Party, and has advised on public relation aspects but without any sounding out of public opinion. The Director is of the view that some flexibility should be retained in the handling of publicity about this proposal.
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