Immigration Department

Immigration Control

The Immigration Department plays an important role in maintaining law and order by controlling entry into the HKSAR. Through examination at control points and vetting of entry applications, undesirable persons including international criminals and terrorists are detected and denied entry. In 2003, 20 521 such travellers and 7 134 other persons not in possession of proper documentation were refused permission to land, and 2 266 applications for entry were refused.

Detection of Forged Travel Documents

Strict measures were taken to guard against the use of forged travel documents. Officers detected 3 094 forged travel documents during the year, compared with 3 549 in 2002. Frequent contacts with local, Mainland and overseas law enforcement agencies and consulates were maintained to exchange information and intelligence on the use of such documents. Special operations were mounted against forgery syndicates.

Interception of Wanted Persons

In 2003, 212 608 wanted persons were intercepted at immigration control points and other offices. These persons were suspected to be connected with trafficking in dangerous drugs and other criminal offences such as murder and robbery.

Illegal Immigration and Unlawful Employment

In 2003, 4 052 illegal immigrants were apprehended and repatriated, compared with 6 545 in 2002.

Many illegal workers were visitors who breached their conditions of stay. The Immigration Task Force conducted frequent checks at targeted locations, including construction sites, factories, restaurants and other places of employment. In 2003, 5 739 operations were conducted and 16 548 illegal workers were arrested, compared with 3 580 operations and 11 990 arrests in 2002.

Illegal workers were prosecuted and either fined or jailed before being repatriated to their places of origin. Their employers were also prosecuted. In 2003, 445 employers of illegal workers were prosecuted, compared with 383 in 2002.

Deportation and Removal

The Immigration Department processes deportation and removal orders. During the year, 7 193 persons convicted of possessing or trafficking in dangerous drugs, deception, theft, forgery and other criminal offences were considered for deportation and 582 were deported. Another 1 555 were removed from the HKSAR under removal orders, covering 30 illegal immigrants and 1 525 people who had breached their conditions of stay.

Investigation and Prosecution of Immigration Offences

During the year, 23 040 charges were laid against persons who had committed various immigration offences. These offences included remaining in the HKSAR illegally, breaching conditions of stay, making false statements or representations, and using or possessing forged travel documents.

Measures Against SARS

During the SARS outbreak, the Immigration Department worked closely with the Department of Health, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service in implementing various health measures at immigration control points to guard against the disease.

At the airport, all travellers, including arriving, departing and transit passengers, were required to complete health declaration forms and be subject to temperature screening. All staff members were also given temperature checks before entering the restricted area of the Passenger Terminal Building.

At the boundary control points, all arriving passengers, including cross-boundary drivers, were required to submit health declaration forms and be subject to temperature screening. Passengers arriving on board overseas or locally based cruise liners on destination trips, and Mainland/Macau ferries were required to submit health declaration forms. All arriving and departing passengers travelling through the two cross-boundary ferry terminals were subject to temperature checks.

In order to provide better protection for the public and immigration staff, protective front panels were installed at clearance counters of all control points, crew counters at the airport and counters of public-oriented offices to prevent transmission of SARS by respiratory droplets.

In addition to the provision of sufficient protective gear to front-line staff in case of need, work in maintaining the cleanliness of office premises was stepped up. Procedures were also drawn up for handling suspected SARS patients.