TNAG-2050-FCO40-2920-Visits-by-Lord-Caithness--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and--1990 — Page 61

Opinions from the Service Staff of Immigration Department, Hong Kong

The Organisation of Immigration Department, Hong Kong

The Immigration Department is by statute a disci- plined department in Hong Kong. Up to date it has a total of 5,716 staffs, comprising 1,792 officers, 1,681 rank and file, and 2,243 civilians working closely and harmoniously together.

Roles of the Immigration Department, Hong Kong

2.

The work of the Immigration Department covers a wide scope of duties. A brief description of its day to day work in the following paragraphs may help to understand the situation more

(i) The control of people passing in and out of

Hong Kong by land, sea, and air;

(ii)

The documentation of

local

residents

involving naturalization, the issue of travel documents and identity cards, and the registration of births, deaths and marriage;

(iii) The investigation, arrest and prosecution and deportation of overstayers, illegal immigrants and those who have breached the immigration laws of Hong Kong;

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

The Hong Kong Immigration Department also acts as agent for the British Government and some Commonwealth territories not otherwise represented in Hong Kong,

the issue of entry certificates and visas for these countries;

The dealing with Vietnamese refugees/boat people, the 'screening' of Vietnamese boat people for the refugee status, and the arranging for their settlement in other countries;

The processing of visas and extension of stay applications, including the importation of labours applications from other countries;

(vii) The processing of applications under the British Nationality Package Scheme which will grant UK passports to 50,000 Hong Kong families.

3. .....