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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, on the motion debate on "Comprehensively developing the border area" moved by Hon Wong Ting-kwong in the Legislative Council yesterday (November 2):
Madam President,
The Frontier Closed Area (FCA) was first introduced in 1951 with its present boundary specified in 1962. It covers about 2,800 hectares of land south of the Hong Kong/Shenzhen boundary.
The FCA has been a major security measure to maintain the integrity of the boundary between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Its main purpose is to provide a buffer zone between the Hong Kong/Shenzhen boundary and the populated territory of Hong Kong, enabling the Police, through exercising entry and exit control over the FCA, to combat illegal immigration and other cross-boundary criminal activities. Other security measures include the erection of a sensor-equipped fence and barbed wires along the boundary, as well as patrols and ambushes. For those who have genuine needs to enter the FCA, the Police will issue them with permits.
Since the Reunification, there has been close law enforcement co-operation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, which has effectively combated cross-boundary crimes. The number of illegal immigrants intercepted in the FCA has significantly dropped from around 2,400 in 1997 to around 870 in 2004, representing a decrease of more than 60%. In light of changing security circumstances in the boundary area, we have conducted a review of the FCA coverage. The review results show that with the implementation of effective security measures, the FCA coverage could be reduced substantially without affecting boundary integrity. Most of the residents presently residing in the FCA would no longer have to apply for closed area permits.
As regards whether a specific area should be excised from the FCA, the main consideration is whether this will pose security risks and whether there are sufficient remedial security measures. Our principle is to ensure that the effective combating of cross-boundary crimes, prevention of illegal immigration and smuggling activities can be maintained with the reduction of the FCA coverage.
Madam President, we are actively working with the relevant law enforcement agencies to establish the new FCA boundary. We are in the final stage assessment of the new boundary's impact on existing security facilities and strategies, so as to make corresponding adjustments to ensure continued effective boundary management. We will brief Members on the details of the security measures concerned when publicising the new FCA boundary. We hope Members will support our proposals.
The review of the FCA coverage involves not only the scope of reduction of the coverage from the security point of view, but also detailed considerations of issues relating to planning, transport, land use, development needs, the environment, infrastructure, etc. A number of members have touched on these points. I understand that the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands will brief Members shortly on the planning and development of the areas to be excised from the FCA. Taking into account the work undertaken by parties concerned, we expect that we will be able to publicise the details of the new FCA boundary in early 2006.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Thursday, November 3, 2005
Issued at HKT 00:15
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