ENG-1989 — Page 310

PUBLIC ORDER

not in possession of proper documentation were refused permission to land and 1 733 applicants were refused visas.

Detection of Forged Travel Documents

Continuous efforts are required to guard against the use of forged travel documents and identity cards by illegal immigrants and travellers. The security features of Hong Kong travel documents and identity cards have been refined to make them difficult to forge. Intelligence on forgery is collected and quickly disseminated, and special operations are mounted against forgery syndicates.

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Frequent contacts are made with other local'and overseas law enforcement agencies and consulates. During the year, a total of 1 183 forged travel documents were detected, representing an increase of 2.51 per cent, compared with 1 154 in 1988.

Interception of Wanted Persons

During the year, 68 218 persons were intercepted at immigration control points and immigration and registration of persons offices. Of these, 553 were wanted in connection with murder cases, 1 723 were suspected robbers, 31 301 were involved in the trafficking of dangerous drugs and 33 612 were involved in other criminal offences. In addition, 76 known or suspected terrorists were identified at points of entry.

Illegal Immigration

Frequent checks are conducted at suspicious locations, including construction sites, factories, restaurants and other places of employment. Illegal immigrants are prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment before they are repatriated to their place of origin. With the aid of the Identity Card Information System, round-the-clock record checks enable law enforcement officers to verify the authenticity of identity cards.

In 1989, a total of 17 611 illegal immigrants were apprehended and repatriated. Em- ployers of illegal immigrants were also prosecuted and fined and, in serious cases, custodial sentences were imposed.

However, the number of impersonation cases where illegal immigrants resort to the use of an identity card belonging to another person in order to remain in Hong Kong has increased considerably in recent years. In 1989, 433 such cases were detected. To combat this growing problem, the Registration of Persons Ordinance and Regulations were amended during the year to raise the penalty on illegal transfer of identity cards and on the illegal use of another person's identity card. Under the amended law, possession of an identity card belonging to another person without reasonable excuse was also made an offence. This is to deter racketeers from selling other people's identity cards to illegal immigrants.

Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offences

During the year, a total of 6 532 charges were laid against persons who had committed various immigration offences. Apart from illegal immigration, these offences included illegally remaining, breach of condition of stay, making false statements or representations, and conspiracy in the use and supply of forged documents.

Deportation and Removal

The Immigration Department is responsible for the application, issue and execution of deportation and removal orders. During the year, 5 254 persons who were convicted of

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