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The work of the Immigration Department is closely linked with the livelihood of Hong Kong residents, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said today (January 22), citing the department's 24-hour hotline 1868 service provided by the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit.
Mr Lee said the hotline enabled local residents outside Hong Kong to seek emergency assistance wherever and whenever they are in need.
Speaking at the Passing-out Parade of the Immigration Service, Mr Lee said, "During various major incidents over the past years, such as the tsunami in South Asia and the Sichuan earthquake, the department's Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit never failed to dispatch members abroad or to the Mainland speedily to help our residents.
"Despite the grievous conditions in such natural disasters, and the shortage of supplies and unavailability of communication facilities, the Immigration officers drew on their professional knowledge and expertise to discharge their duties round the clock with perseverance and selflessness, striving to serve Hong Kong residents to their best."
Mr Lee said that despite being only a small place, Hong Kong was home to more than seven million people.
Being Hong Kong's gatekeeper, the Immigration Department made great efforts in guarding Hong Kong's control points and enforcing effective immigration control, he said.
The department was also tasked with dealing with illegal workers and immigration offenders, he added.
Mr Lee said the department was actively co-operating with law enforcement agencies of other places to combat cross-boundary illegal migration and the use of forged documents so as to safeguard law and order in Hong Kong.
He said the department also provided diverse services to Hong Kong residents, among which were the issuance of highly secure identity cards and travel documents, and the processing of registration for births, deaths and marriages.
Mr Lee said that other than Hong Kong residents, people coming to Hong Kong, be they tourists or businessmen from all over the world, would also come into contact with services provided by the Immigration Department the moment they set foot here.
"To leave them a good first impression of Hong Kong, the Immigration Department staff, in addition to handling heavy passenger flow, have taken up the important role of being Hong Kong's goodwill ambassadors," he said.
"Serving always with courtesy, professionalism and enthusiasm, they make every endeavour to provide efficient service for our visitors," he added.
Ends/Friday, January 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:59
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