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Two major initiatives of the Security Bureau in the 2007-08 Policy Agenda are to review the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and to enhance current measures and formulate new measures to tackle youth drug abuse, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said today (October 17).
He made the remarks at the special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Security.
He also said the Security Bureau would keep the ongoing initiatives moving in this Legislative Council session to ensure good law and order, facilitate the movement of people and goods, improve facilities of the penal institutions and strengthen rehabilitative services.
The QMAS has attracted talent from various trades to Hong Kong since it was launched in June, 2006, including world-renowned personalities with remarkable achievements.
"We are reviewing the QMAS with a view to casting our net wider for quality migrants. Some of the directions in our study are how to further attract young talent with potential, and successful and veteran talent; and how to streamline application procedures. Our target is to complete the review in early 2008," Mr Lee said.
"The Security Bureau and the Immigration Department will continue to work with other relevant parties in promoting the talent admission schemes. For instance, the Government and the Advisory Committee of Admission of Quality Migrants and Professionals have teamed up with various sectors and organisations in promoting the QMAS. The Immigration Department will repackage the talent admission schemes and streamline the application procedures. We hope to have the job completed in 2008," he said.
In tackling the youth drug abuse problem, Mr Lee said a high level inter-departmental task force led by the Secretary for Justice would build on the existing fight crime and anti-drug network, review current measures, spearhead cross-bureau and inter-departmental efforts, and enhance collaboration among non-government organisations, stakeholders and the community, with a view to identifying areas of focus and enhancement. Mr Lee stressed that the Administration would continue to liaise closely with the Action Committee Against Narcotics and anti-drug workers in fighting drug abuse.
To enhance the independence and transparency of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) and to increase public confidence in the police complaints system, Mr Lee said the Security Bureau introduced the Independent Police Complaints Council Bill into the Legislative Council in July this year to establish the IPCC as a statutory body. Based on the existing two-tier police complaints system, the bill seeks to codify the IPCC's functions and powers in relation to its monitoring and reviewing role on complaints against the Police.
"We shall work with the Legislative Council to seek the enactment of the IPCC Bill in the 2007-08 legislative session. We will continue to take into account comments from different sectors and work closely with IPCC," he said.
In September 2006, the Government announced the results of the review of the Frontier Closed Area (FCA) coverage and proposed to reduce the FCA coverage to the narrow strip of the boundary patrol road and the land to its north, plus the areas with points of crossing the boundary (the boundary control points and Sha Tau Kok town) after the construction of a secondary boundary fence along the existing boundary patrol road.
During the consultation period from September to November 2006, views and proposals from concerned individuals and parties were collected. There are suggestions that individual villages and private land should be wholly excised from the FCA, the proposed secondary boundary fence be located as far away from the nearby residences as possible, and the FCA be reduced in phases. If these suggestions were implemented, adjustment to the proposed alignment of the secondary boundary fence or even the relocation of the existing boundary patrol road as well as the primary fence would be necessary and some land with conservation value within the FCA would be affected.
"We are examining the policies and technical feasibility concerned with relevant bureaus and departments. We fully understand the local community's concern on the opening up of the FCA and we will finalise the alignment of the secondary boundary fence as soon as possible."
The Government is committed to facilitating the movement of people and goods across the boundary. Measures pursued included the opening of boundary control points in Shenzhen Bay Port and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line, improvement of facilities in Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Control Points, increasing of manpower and allocation of resources flexibly, simplification of immigration procedures and establishment of e-Channels.
"We are planning to extend the service of e-Channels to certain frequent visitors to Hong Kong to enable them to enjoy fast and efficient services," he said.
In combating money laundering and terrorist financing, Mr Lee said that the enforcement departments would spare no efforts in the fight against money laundering. The financial regulators would keep up their stringent monitoring on banking, securities and insurance sectors in preventing criminals from exploiting the financial regime. The Administration would also step up publicity and education in enhancing the alertness of different sectors towards suspicious transactions.
He said money laundering and terrorism were international and cross-boundary crimes. The Government would maintain close cooperation with its overseas and Mainland counterparts to effectively combat these illegal activities.
In addition, the Government will continue to seek solutions to address the problems of overcrowding and outdated facilities in penal institutions. The Correctional Services Department will also carry on with its Risks and Needs Assessment Protocol to deliver rehabilitative programmes that best meet the needs of prisoners.
Ends/Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:04
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