322 Public Order
connected with offences or court orders ranging from failure to settle outstanding fines on time to serious crimes.
Illegal Immigration and Unlawful Employment
During the year, 3 175 illegal immigrants from the Mainland were apprehended and sent back, compared with 3 151 in 2006.
The Immigration Department set up an Anti-Illegal Workers Combat Squad in January 2005, a fast moving and robust force to deal with the problem of illegal workers and the people who employ them. Its main duties involve conducting undercover patrols at illegal worker black spots. A tactical squad, also set up in January 2005, assists in both passenger clearance at Lo Wu and other control points and in operations against immigration offenders.
In 2007, some 6 399 illegal workers were arrested in 9 606 raids, compared with 10 325 arrested in 9 183 raids in 2006. The vast majority of illegal workers were visitors who had breached their conditions of stay.
Illegal workers were either fined or jailed before being repatriated to their places of origin. Their employers were also prosecuted. In 2007, a total of 336 charges were laid against employers of illegal workers.
Deportation and Removal
The Immigration Department processes deportation and removal orders. During the year, some 7 958 people convicted of offences punishable with imprisonment for not less than two years were considered for deportation and 427 such persons were deported. Another 339 were removed from the HKSAR. They comprised 46 illegal immigrants and 293 people who had breached their conditions of stay.
Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offences
During the year, a total of 12 042 charges were laid against people who had committed various immigration offences. These included people remaining in Hong Kong illegally, people who breached conditions of stay, people who made false statements or representations or who used or possessed forged travel documents.
Fire Services
The Fire Services Department fights fires, protects life and property in the event of fires and other calamities. It also provides emergency ambulance services, and gives fire protection advice to the public.
The department has 8 720 uniformed and 594 civilian members and is one of the world's finest fire brigades with well-trained personnel, advanced communications systems, and modern equipment and appliances.
The department responded to 31 638 fire calls, 22 083 special service calls and 611 707 ambulance calls in 2007.
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