HK is not a transit point for migrant trafficking

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Following is the translation of the "HK Family Letter" delivered by the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr John Tsang Chun-wah, on Radio Television Hong Kong this(October 28) morning:

Dear Wen Xin,

It has been several weeks since we last met. I am very glad to note on the phone that you are enjoying yourself in Kyoto and making significant improvement in your studies. It is a rare opportunity for you to pursue studies in Japan for a period as long as one whole year, during which you can acquire first-hand knowledge of the economic insight of the richest advanced country in Asia, and a profound understanding of an ancient civilization. I am sure you will treasure this opportunity and try your best to garner new experience. I wish you would see the world in a wider perspective, with enhanced appreciation of different cultures and their history when you go back to the States to study next fall.

When the autumn wind blows, you will definitely miss the delicious snake soup. As a Chinese saying goes, "As the autumn wind blows stronger, the three snakes grow fatter". Snakes accumulate fat in fall to prepare for hibernation. But recently there is a kind of snakes with somewhat abnormal behaviour, as they become active when fall approaches. They are the so-called "human snakes" i.e. illegal immigrants, which have recently become an international concern once again.

Migrant trafficking is a major international issue. This problem is neither solely associated with the Chinese, nor the people of Fujian Province who sneak into U.S. through Hong Kong. It is an issue regardless of nationality and boundary. Hundreds and thousands of people from places like the Middle East, Africa, South America, East Europe and South East Asia move to better-off regions every day. Generally their destinations are well-off western countries, band Hong Kong is one of them.

Mobility of population has been an on-going phenomenon ever since the beginning of human history. I bet you remember the story about Moses and his large group of Jewish people recorded in the Bible, and recently there are reported cases of Vietnamese refugees arriving in Hong Kong and Mexicans sneaking into the States every day.

It is apparently simple for the problem of illegal migration to be solved thoroughly. If there is peace in the world and people from all countries are leading a comfortable life, then they will not leave their homelands unseeingly to quest for a perfect home on foreign soil. And yet, it really takes the greatest wisdom in order to achieve these ideals.

I do believe that it is very difficult to entirely root out the problem of illegal border-crossing. A few regions have adopted the means of tough enforcement against migrant trafficking, but this can only force the law-breakers to shift their targets and change their transit point for migrant trafficking. With numerous routes of illegal trafficking, the law-breakers will resort to every mode and every channel, by sea, land or air to reach their goals.

Therefore, prior to achieving the stage of Utopia which is free from illegal migrant trafficking, we strive to deliver a strong message to the law-breakers that we are dedicated to intercept the illegal activities of migrant trafficking in the territory. We will spare no efforts in cracking all trafficking channels to make the law-breakers realize the adequate preparation, measures, mechanism and determination of Hong Kong in combating such illegal activities.

We have adopted a mechanism based on a three-pronged approach, which, though not perfect, is certainly effective and successful in deterring the traffickers. We are trying to address the trafficking problem fully in three aspects:

(a) Apart from having implemented a highly effective goods spot-checking system, the officers of Customs and Excise Department will also work with their counterparts in the Police Force and Immigration Department to guard all major entry points into the territory, and inspect all suspicious aircrafts, vessels, vehicles and so on, to ensure that they will not be used by the criminal syndicates as a means of trafficking.

(b) We also work closely with container terminals and shipping companies for stringent spot checks on all suspicious containers, especially those outbound ones heading for the popular destinations and countries for human smugglers. Since January, Customs has inspected more than 34,000 containers. To enhance the effectiveness of detection, we have employed portable carbon dioxide detectors since January of this year to detect any life inside the containers. Meanwhile, we have already acquired two super mobile X-ray machines, which are worth $70 million, to assist in our container examination.

(c) On the international level, we enjoy excellent cooperation with the authorities concerned overseas, characterized by close ties, regular exchange of intelligence and mutual assistance. In the first four months of this year, amongst the 11 cases of migrant trafficking detected in North America, six were the result of tip-offs from Hong Kong Customs. On the working level, we maintain close cooperation and good communication with the law enforcement authorities of Guangdong province.

The crackdown on trafficking of migrants hiding in a container in Kwai Chung last week has sparked off serious concerns that Hong Kong might have become a primary base for migrant trafficking. In my opinion, however, the above case simply reflects our determination and our established sound mechanism to effectively intercept migrant trafficking using the containers. Representatives from a number of countries have visited Hong Kong for the specific purpose of studying our exemplary mechanism and discussing with us how to implement a similar system in their own countries. A year ago, during my trip to a number of cities in the States, I introduced the mechanism, which was well embraced and recognized among different audiences. I have great confidence that Hong Kong will by no means become a major transit point for migrant trafficking.

Wen Xin, next time when you come back to Hong Kong, I hope that apart from feasting on the delicious super snake soup, you can also see the fruits of the all-out efforts of Hong Kong Customs in combating migrant trafficking in Hong Kong, which successfully keeps the problem at bay and ensure maintenance of Hong Kong's good international reputation.

Talking to you again soon.

Dad

Autumn 2000

End/Saturday, October 28, 2000

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