126,
However, the urge to enter Hong Kong seeme to be as powerful as ever. We must, therefore, maintain the high level. of operations by the security forces and the Immigration Department, and we aro prossing on with improvements to physical barriero and communications. Those will be completed by mid 1983.
127.
Yet, despite the vigilance of the security forces and. the formidable barrier on the border, illegal immigrants still get through. An important now factor in deterring them, and dotecting them if they still manage to get in, will be the more secure replacement identity card which the Immigration Department will start ipouing in May 1983. Priority of issue
is being given to males between the ages of 18 and 35, because it is in this group that those who have succeeded in entering illegally are most likely to be found. In future, it will be much more' difficult to forge identity cards and those already here who are trying to avoid detection by using them will be discovereâ and repatriated. Thi important' operation will gause inconvenience, to the extent of two short attendances at a centre, but the personal cost is worth paying to produce a much more effective document and record in the interests of the community as a whole. It goes without saying that this event will not be the occasion for an amnesty.
immigrants from
120.
AG to the other main category of China, namely those who come with the permission of the Chinese authorities and remain here, we continue to be concerned by the numbers involved. Azziving at a rato of some 55,000 a year. they represent an additional 10 expansion in our population. We recognise the pressure on the Chinese authorities from the very large number of people with good reasons
romeone for coming to Hong Kong. We hope nevertholosz it will soon be possible' to · make some reduction in the numbers who ontor and remain here, and we are in close touch with them on this issue,
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