UMELCO RESTRICTED
DRAFT SPEECH BY HON. O.V. CHEUNG, CBE, QC, JP
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 23.10.80
G
Sir,
It has been obvious for some time that, given two conditions, the touch-base policy and the lack of restrictions on their employment, large numbers of illegal immigrants would find it worthwhile to make the effort to get through the cordon of our security forces. The odds I am told, were about even that they would succeed at the first try. I am not concerned to enquire into what motivated them; suffice that large numbers, too large and increasing too rapidly, decided to come within our borders.
Probably, as the policy of modernisation is implemented in Guangdong, and as the special zone of Shenzhen is developed, the motivation will decrease, but meantime we have to take action.
The object of the legislation this afternoon is to bring to an end those two inducements to gamble on reaching base in Hong Kong. Plainly stated, first, all illegal immigrants who arrive here after today from China, whenever and wherever they are found, and by whatever route they have come, are liable to be returned to China.
Secondly, it will be a serious offence to give employment to any illegal immigrant.
It cannot be said too emphatically that our infrastructure cannot sustain the inflow. Our housing programme, our social services and even our transport services cannot cope with the large influx. The growth of population attributable to immigration from China alone in
/p. 2
UMELCO RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.