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4.
There are regular seasonal variations in the flow of illegal immigrants into Hong Kong. The peak period is around October after
the harvest has been gathered in neighbouring provinces in China.
5.
The figures show a steep increase in attempted illegal immigration so far in 1987. However, the evader rate has remained
reasonably stable as a proportion of total arrests. This indicates
that the vast majority are being caught and sent back quickly.
Motivation
6.
An
The motivation for illegal immigrants is purely economic.
illegal immigrant can earn as much in one day on a building site in
Hong Kong as he can in a month on a farm in southern China.
Countermeasures
7.
The main means of preventing illegal immigration lie in Hong
Kong's security measures at the border. The border fence and its
associated obstacles are manned at all times by a battalion of 48
Gurkha Infantry Brigade with a further company in reserve. A range
of technical surveillance aids is in use. The vast majority of illegals attempt to cross the land border. Sea approaches are patrolled by Marine Police launches (especially in Deep Bay and Mirs
Bay) and Royal Navy patrol craft. Evaders are discovered by means
of Police identity card checks and raids on places where illegals
are likely to find work. There is Hong Kong legislation against the
employment of illegals.
Ex China Vietnamese Illegal Immigrants (ECVIIS)
8.
There has long been a problem of former Vietnamese refugees
who have been resettled in China coming into Hong Kong illegally,
hoping to be resettled elsewhere as genuine Vietnamese refugees. At
the beginning of July 1987, ECVIIs from the Guangdong and Guangxi
provinces began to arrive by boat in large numbers: over 7,000 have
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