TNAG-0984-FCO40-1203-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 16

Law and Order

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It is widely considered that new arrivals are becoming increasingly involved in crime, and their involvement in serious and high-value crime is believed to reached significant proportions. The number of recent immigrants (i.e. those arriving after 1 January 1978) arrested and charged with criminal offences was 116 in 1978, rising to 565 in 1979. In the first 8 months of 1980 the number rose further to 985, of whom 251 were previous offenders. These figures do not fully reflect the situation as they do not include cases still under investigation, nor unreported crime. Analysis shows that illegal immigrants are involved largely in robberies and appear more ready to use violence, including fire-arms, to perpetrate their crimes.

Additional Security Measures

The size of the Garrison forces was fully reviewed in 1975, by agreement between the UK Government and the Hong Kong Government. Necessary reinforcement began in mid-1979 to increase security measures along the border. A new agreement has just been signed which provides for the further enlargement of the Garrison by one Infantry battalion and support elements, and will come into effect in 1981. Initially the new strength of the Garrison will comprise 4 Gurkha battalions and 1 British battalion, with increased support arms. This inevitably means a substantially increased contribution by the Hong Kong Government towards the cost of the Garrison.

The need to maintain a high level of anti-illegal immigration operations has inevitably to some extent detracted from the strength available for regular anti- crime duties; an average of 1,000 police officers are deployed on anti-illegal immigration duties every day. In view of the increased commitments of the Marine Police in particular, the Government has agreed in principle to a ten-year programme to expand the fleet by 24 vessels, as well as replacing 34 existing vessels.

In the past, only the immediate border was patrolled. Subsequently the military forces were required to extend its areas of patrol and the depth and thoroughness of its patrol coverage. As a result, more accommodation, observation posts and other facilities have had to be provided. Other major projects include 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, is HK$93 million for capital expenditure and HK$74 million per annum for recurrent costs.

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.

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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 Sch China Sea.

Boun 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 'reaching base' as 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 office had to be set up to deal with their registration. The Immigration Department undertakes the considerable amount of additional work involved.

On 15 September, 1980, in order further to facilitate the detection of illegal immigrants who had not 'reached base', the Government issued an order extending to most of the New Territories the requirement that Hong Kong residents should carry identity cards, a requirement hitherto limited to a few particularly vulnerable areas along the land and sea border with China.

Notwithstanding all these additional security measures, and concerted efforts, illegal immigrants have evidently not been sufficiently deterred from trying to get into Hong Kong.

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