**************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Ng Leung-sing and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, in the Legislative Council today (April 30):
Question:
The 2003 Policy Address states that in response to a proposal by the SAR Government, the Central Government agreed to study further relaxation of current restrictions to facilitate Mainland residents' visits to Hong Kong, including allowing Guangdong Province residents to visit individually. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it has:
(a) proposed to impose requirements on the financial capacity of the Guangdong Province residents seeking to visit Hong Kong individually; if it has, of the proposed requirements; if not, the reasons for that; and
(b) formulated any measures to strengthen the efforts against illegal residence and black market labour, to tie in with allowing individual Guangdong Province residents to visit Hong Kong; if it has, of the details of such measures; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) The Chief Executive has earlier indicated that the Central People's Government had agreed in principle to allow residents in the Guangdong Province to come to Hong Kong for sightseeing in their personal capacity. However, implementation timetable and specific details, e.g. eligibility criteria, number of visits permitted within a certain period of time, duration of stay on each visit, etc., have yet to be worked out between Hong Kong and Mainland authorities.
(b) The HKSAR Government always attaches great importance to fighting illegal stay and illegal employment and has put in place a series of enforcement measures to address such problems. If the proposal to allow residents in Guangdong Province to come to Hong Kong for sightseeing in their personal capacity is implemented, we will review and adjust the measures as and when necessary with a view to curbing any problems of illegal stay and black market labour which may arise.
At present, major enforcement measures include stringent controls exercised by the Immigration Department (ImmD) at immigration control points so as to identify and prevent any suspect visitors intending to seek illegal employment in Hong Kong from gaining entry. The Immigration Task Force also inspects factories, restaurants, commercial enterprises and black spots of illegal workers from time to time, and frequently carries out joint operations with departments such as the Police and the Labour Department to conduct surprise checks on black spots of illegal workers. In 2002, the ImmD mounted a total of 3 580 operations against illegal employment, resulting in the arrest of 9 857 illegal workers from the Mainland.
To further co-ordinate the efforts of various departments for more effective actions against Mainland visitors engaging in illegal activities in Hong Kong, the law enforcement departments formed an Inter-departmental Task Force in April this year. Comprising members from the Police, ImmD, Hong Kong Customs and Excise, Correctional Services Department, Labour Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and Lands Department, the Inter-departmental Task Force facilitates regular exchange of information as well as reviews and co-ordinates the enforcement work of member departments. In addition, visitors found to be engaged in illegal employment are prosecuted and, on conviction, are liable to a fine up to HK$50 000 and imprisonment up to two years. The employers concerned are also prosecuted and, on conviction, are liable to a fine up to HK$350 000 and imprisonment up to three years.
The Administration has also been proactively making publicity against illegal employment. Specific measures include the launching of radio and television announcements of public interest (APIs) to warn employers against employing illegal workers, with a new API being broadcast since January this year. The ImmD and the Labour Department have also been distributing leaflets to stress to employers that they must check the identity of job seekers and to remind them that employers of illegal workers are liable to imprisonment on conviction.
In addition, the ImmD maintains close contacts with Mainland authorities to discuss with them measures to prevent Mainlanders from seeking illegal employment in Hong Kong. Specific measures include the establishment of a liaison mechanism between the law enforcement departments of the two sides to exchange intelligence. The ImmD also provides information on illegal workers from the Mainland to authorities regulating entry and exit in the Mainland from time to time so that the latter can take necessary follow-up actions and carefully examine future applications to visit Hong Kong by them.
End/Wednesday, April 30, 2003
NNNN
