Clauses 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 of the Immigration (Amendment) Bill (Annex A) seek to transfer to the Secretary for Security certain powers which are presently vested in the Governor and the Chief Secretary. The Secretary for Security is more directly involved in the administration of these provisions and the amendments are proposed for administrative
convenience.
Signing of Immigration Service Warrant Cards
6
Section 6 of the Immigration Service Ordinance (Chapter 331) requires that warrant cards issued to Members of the Immigration Service should be signed personally by the Director of Immigration. With the expansion of the Service, this procedure is no longer practicable. The Immigration Service (Amendment) Bill 1980 (Annex C) seeks to remove the requirement for warrant cards to be signed. This will not detract from the security of these documents.
Financial Implications
7
The proposal to vest powers in the Immigration Assistant and Senior Immigration Assistant ranks will result in savings in the long term as the annual staff cost of these ranks is less than that of the officer cadre. It is not possible to quantify the savings at this time as the number of posts which can be taken over by Immigration Assistants and Senior Immigration Assistants can only be determined in the light of experience gained in implementing the proposals.
8
The other proposals have no financial implications.
Public Relations
9
It is unlikely that the extension of powers under the Immigration Ordinance to Immigration Assistants and Senior Immigration Assistants will generate public interest. Should there be any comment, the Director of Immigration will take steps to reassure the public on the limited nature of the powers being extended and the safeguards against abuse already contained in the department's administrative instructions and arrangements for control and supervision.
10
The other proposed amendments have no public relations
implications.
CONFIDENTIAL
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