XCC(81) 128
Financial and Staffing Implications
15
There are no financial or staffing implications. Existing Immigration staff should be able to cope without undue difficulty with the examination of the children and the removal of the relatively small number selected for repatriation.
Public Reaction
16
Criticism of any action against children is bound to be voiced. On the other hand there has developed a surprisingly strong swell of opinion that sympathy for the children themselves should not deter the Government from maintaining firm control over immigration. Any relaxation or exceptions would be seen as an assessment by the Government that strict controls were no longer important. This has unfortunately been an impression which has arisen as a result of criticism by a magistrate of the requirement to carry proof of identity. The Government's policy of considering the case of each child with humanitarian factors in mind (especially where children have joined parents) is likely to be accepted by the great majority of long-term residents. The likelihood, if the Government does not act, of tens of thousands of children arriving here to join parents who left those children behind to come to Hong Kong illegally themselves in the first place should help dispel misgivings.
Publicity
17
The principal aim of Government publicity will be to deter. The purpose of the legislation is to block a gap in measures to control immigration, A good deal of the radio and television output in Chinese will therefore be directed at China. For local purposes and, in the English media, proper emphasis will be given to the care with which the individual cases will be handled.
Advice Sought
18
Members will be asked to advise whether :-
(a)
the Immigration (Amendment) (No 4) Bill 1981 should be introduced into the Legislative Council, and
(b)
the Bill should proceed through all its stages in the Legislative Council in a single meeting.
(The Secretary for Security (Mr L. M. DAVIES), the Law Draftsman (Mr C.P. NAZARETH) and the Director of Immigration (Mr R. G. B. BRIDGE) will attend before the Council for the discussion of this item).
26th November 1981
(CR 3/2091/81)
CONFIDENTIAL
COUNCIL CHAMBER
機密
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