TNAG-0986-FCO40-1205-Legislation-for-immigration-into-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 10

布政司署

港下亞

畢道

本署檔號 OUR REF : (2) in L/M No. (15) in SEC 11/5/1 XXIV

來函擋號 YOUR REF :

Dr. LEE Kam-to,

English Tutorial Institute,

Main School,

8 rua da Calderia,

1st 4th floors,

-

Macau

GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

COPY

10th November, 1980

Dear Sir,

His Excellency the Governor has authorised me to reply to your letter dated 28th October, 1980 requesting that permission to stay in Hong Kong be given to illegal immigrants from Macau.

2.

As you will be aware the changes in immigration policy announced on 23rd October were related in particular to illegal immigrants from China who had previously been allowed to remain in Hong Kong if they had reached base. It has never been the Government's intention in terminating the "reach base" policy to relax any of the existing immigration policies even temporarily in respect of people from places other than China. Moreover in practice such a step would not be in the interests of Hong Kong as there are many people in Macau who are waiting for any sign of a relaxation in immigration policies to make an attempt to enter Hong Kong.

3.

Nevertheless, existing procedures for considering cases of illegal immigrants from places other than China already provide for very careful and sympathetic examination and individual processing. Each case is considered on its merits, with length of stay in Hong Kong, family circumstances, type of employment, age, state of health and any other relevant factors taken into account. In these circumstances any illegal immigrant from Macau who has not already come forward to the Immigration Department should be strongly advised to do so as soon as possible.

Otherwise, without acceptable proof of identity he will be liable to arrest and cannot lawfully be employed.

Yours faithfully,

Unkera

(KWAN Wing-wah)

for Secretary for Security