TNAG-0984-FCO40-1203-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 125

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the construction of a new border fence and a holding centre for illegal immigrants awaiting repatriation. A broad assessment of estimated direct costs of anti-illegal immigration

operations for the period 1979-1981, in addition to the cost of reinforcement of the Garrison as set out above, is $93 million for capital expenditure on improvements to security installations, equipment, boats, etc. The recurrent costs are estimated at $36 million per annum covering allowances, fuel, food and other

expenses.

Each night on the Hong Kong side of the border, there are deployed at least 190 patrols of the army, 150 road blocks and ambushes by the Police; 4 small boats of the Royal Marines; 9 boats of a similar unit of the Marine Police; and in deeper waters 22 police launches and three naval craft; all are

supported as necessary by helicopters. One of the boats used is a research vessel of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, which has had to suspend its important work of surveying pelagic fish resources in the South China Sea.

Both by land and sea the most sophisticated detection devices are used, and the combined efforts of men and equipment have resulted in the evasion rate being cut down from something like 3.5/1 in 1977 to about 1/1 in 1980. ("Evasion rate" is the term used to define the estimated number of illegal immigrants getting through against the number caught in the border area). In view of the large number who have entered Hong Kong successfully over that period, a special Chinese Visitors Office was set up to deal with registrations and applications for extension of stay of illegal immigrants. The Immigration Department has necessarily put in thousands of extra man-months 'work to question these immigrants, conduct investigations, carry out repatriation procedures if appropriate and to issue identity cards. The cost of the additional duties is estimated at $39 million for the

period 1979-1981. On September 15, 1980, in order further to

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