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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, in the Legislative Council today (November 9):
Question:
Under the notification mechanism set up by the law enforcement authorities of the Mainland and Hong Kong, the Immigration Department will pass to the Mainland authorities information about Mainlanders convicted on offences or breaching conditions of stay in Hong Kong, so that the authorities concerned may consider prohibiting these persons from coming to Hong Kong again within a certain period of time. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of Mainlanders with previous convictions in Hong Kong who were convicted again in each of the past three years, after entering the territory again through legal or illegal means, together with a breakdown by category of the offences they last committed, as well as the average interval between the two most recent offences committed by them; and
(b) whether it has discussed with the relevant Mainland authorities the issuing of travel documents or endorsements to certain Mainlanders to Hong Kong despite their repeated convictions in the territory; if so, of the outcome of the discussion?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) At present, we do not keep statistics regarding Mainland visitors with previous convictions in Hong Kong and who were convicted again after entering Hong Kong again.
(b) The Hong Kong Special Administrative (HKSAR) Government and relevant Mainland authorities have established mechanisms to prevent Mainland visitors from breaching regulations or undertaking illegal activities in Hong Kong. The Immigration Department regularly provides the exit and entry department of the Mainland Public Security Authorities with the particulars of those persons who breach regulations or undertake illegal activities in Hong Kong, in order to enable the relevant Mainland authorities to step up scrutiny of subsequent applications of those persons to visit Hong Kong. We understand that in general, the Mainland authorities would not approve applications for visit endorsement from those persons for periods ranging from two to five years, depending on the circumstances.
We are also aware of individual cases where the persons have applied for permits to visit Hong Kong with false particulars. We have reflected the situation to the Mainland authorities and provided the authorities with relevant information for further follow-up actions.
Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:30
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