ENG-1991 — Page 317

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PUBLIC ORDER

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Immigration Department

By controlling entry into Hong Kong, the Immigration Department plays an important role in maintaining law and order.

Through examination at control points and vetting of visa applications, undesirable persons including international criminals, terrorists and other undesirables are detected and refused entry into Hong Kong. In 1991, 26 358 such travellers and persons not in possession of proper documentation were refused permission to land and 2 456 persons were refused visas.

Detection of Forged Travel Documents

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During the year, a total of 2 793 forged travel documents were detected, representing an increase of 70.6 per cent, compared with 1 637 in 1990.

Sustained efforts are required to guard against the upsurge in the use of forged travel documents by illegal immigrants and travellers. Intelligence on forgery is collected and quickly disseminated. Frequent contacts are made with other local and overseas law enforcement agencies and consulates, and special operations are mounted against forgery syndicates.

In a series of joint operations mounted with the Royal Hong Kong Police in January 1991, a major forgery syndicate and a forgery workshop were neutralised. Over 700 items were seized, including counterfeit machine-readable Hong Kong passports, forged and stolen Hong Kong identity cards, forged seals and dies, and printing equipment. Over 20 arrests were made during the operation.

Interception of Wanted Persons

During the year, 93 907 persons were intercepted at immigration control points and immigration and registration of persons offices. Of these, 461 were wanted in connection with murder cases, 4 187 were suspected robbers, 52 217 were involved in the trafficking of dangerous drugs and 32 628 were involved in other criminal offences. In addition, 152 known or suspected terrorists were identified at points of entry.

Illegal Immigration

The availability of employment opportunities in Hong Kong continues to attract large numbers of illegal immigrants to the territory. Frequent checks are conducted at target locations, including construction sites, factories, restaurants and other places of em- ployment. Illegal immigrants arrested at these places are prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment before they are repatriated to their place of origin. Employers of illegal immigrants, including principal contractors in the construction industry, are also pro- secuted and fined and, in serious cases, custodial sentences are imposed.

In 1991, a total of 33 667 illegal immigrants were apprehended and repatriated. This represents an increase (or decrease) of 10.83 per cent compared with 30 378 in 1990.

Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offences

During the year, a total of 4 858 charges were laid against persons who had committed various immigration offences. Apart from illegal immigration, these offences included illegal remaining, breach of condition of stay, making false statements or representations, and conspiracy in the use and supply of forged documents.