For discussion
on 13 January 1997

LegCo Panel on Security
Commission of Crimes by Illegal Immigrants (IIs)

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Purpose
Background
Measures to Tackle IIs
Conclusion
Total Chinese IIs Arrested ( 1990 - Nov 1996 )
Illegal Chinese Immigrants Arrested for Selected Crime 1993 - 1996 (Jan - Nov)
No. of Chinese IIs Arrested for Crime by Region 1994 - 1996 (Jan - Oct)
Vietnamese Arrested for Selected Crime 1993 - 1996 (Jan - Nov)
IIs Arrest during Anti-II Operations

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Purpose

This paper sets out the Administration’s measures to tackle crimes committed by illegal immigrants (IIs) from China and Vietnam.

Background

2. Annual figures for Chinese IIs arrested during 1990 to 1995, at Annex A, show some fluctuation. The number of Chinese IIs arrested rose from 25,422 in 1991 and peaked at 37,517 in 1993. Thereafter the number of IIs arrested continues to drop. In the first 11 months of 1996, 21,043 IIs were arrested, representing a reduction of 13.9% compared to the same period in 1995.

3. A breakdown of the number of Chinese IIs arrested for selected crimes for 1994 to 1996 is at Annex B. The Police arrested 1,368 IIs for various criminal offences during the first 11 months of 1996, representing a decrease of 32.4% from the same period in 1995. Pending statistics for December 1996, Chinese IIs arrested for crimes in 1996 should be the lowest since 1992. Compared with the same period in 1995, "Robbery" for the first 11 months of 1996 decreased by 13.8% and "Burglary" an even bigger decrease of 26.7%.

4. A regional breakdown for Chinese IIs arrested for all criminal offences is at Annex C. Kowloon West and New Territories North Regions had comparatively higher number of Chinese IIs arrested for crimes in the last two years. This can be attributed to the large number of shops in Kowloon West, which attracted "quick cash" crimes by IIs. As regards New Territories North, its proximity to the border was the main reason.

5. The majority of Chinese IIs arrested for committing criminal offences are from Haifeng county in Guangdong province and the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. They are non-Cantonese speakers and most of them have no family connections in Hong Kong. Realistically, they have no hope of securing any form of employment and consequently have to turn to "quick cash" crimes such as burglary.

6. A breakdown on the types of crime committed by the Vietnamese, including refugees and illegal immigrants, is at Annex D. For the first eleven months of 1996, a total of 463 Vietnamese were arrested for crimes, representing a decline of 42.4% over the same period in 1995.

Measures to Tackle IIs

7. The Police have adopted a three-pronged approach in tackling the problem of crimes committed by IIs. They are -

1. prevention from entry;
2. detection of those who evade border control; and
3. combating crimes by enhanced police presence.

8. On land, the Police prevent IIs from entering Hong Kong by -

1. guarding the border by deploying four Police Tactical Unit (PTU) Companies along the border with China;
2. equipping the four PTU Companies with sophisticated equipment for detection of IIs;
3. flying members of the special border patrol squads via helicopters to loosely controlled areas in Mai Po on a daily basis to detect IIs;
4. encouraging villagers along the Chinese border to report sighting of IIs by various publicity campaigns including distribution of leaflets.

9. At sea, the Marine Police is taking the following preventive measures-

1. conducting routine searches of vessels;
2. detecting illegal "bay crossers" by a radar at Lau Fau Shan Police station and intercepting IIs by thermal imaging;
3. conducting night patrol by water jet boats to intercept crafts coming across the border.

10. In addition to routine checking of identity cards by police officers, the Police also conduct construction site raids, hill side sweeps and road block checks to search for IIs who evade border control on a daily basis. Both Immigration Department and Labour Department frequently participate in such anti-II operations as well. Please see Annex E for the number of IIs arrested during such operations in the first 11 months of 1996.

11. In response to recent crime trends involving Chinese IIs on Hong Kong Island, the Police set up a Mapping Team in November 1995 to locate II hides with emphasis on country parks and other remote areas. Quick Reaction Force has also been deployed on the Island from time to time. These operations are effective and many preventive arrests have been made as a result of such enhanced measures.

12. Increased deployment of police officers on streets also enhance our ability to combat crimes committed by IIs. Compared with 1992, we now have an extra 1,200 police officers in front-line operational duties. We are also increasing over 350 front-line officers in this financial year.

13. The three-pronged approach is supported by close liaison with the Chinese side. Co-ordinated actions are taken by the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to quash any rumour within China that Hong Kong is going to relax its current immigration policy. Furthermore, the Police hold regular Border Liaison Review Meeting with Guangdong to discuss cross-border issues including control of IIs.

14. In a joint operation in August 1996, the Police and Immigration Department quashed a syndicate producing forged Vietnamese refugee cards. This has dealt a severe blow to illegal immigrants from Vietnam seeking illegal employment in Hong Kong. The Police have also stepped up identity checks in certain locations where IIs from Vietnam tend to seek work.

Conclusion

15. Hong Kong experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s some of its most violent crimes, which were committed by Chinese IIs who came armed with heavy automatic weapons. Successful investigations that led to the arrest of a number of violent criminals have reversed the trend. The number arrested for crime remained fairly stable for 1994 and 1995. However a downward trend is emerging in the first 11 months of 1996, and this trend is expected to continue.

16. The prevention of illegal immigration is a priority of the Commissioner of Police, second only to the prevention and detection of crime. This priority is evident from the strong and visible police deployment at sea, along the land border and in daily operations throughout the territory to interdict illegal entrants. The downward trend in the number of IIs arrested suggests that the measures taken by the Police are effective.

Security Branch
January 1997

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Annex A

Total Chinese IIs Arrested ( 1990 - Nov 1996 )

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Annex B

Illegal Chinese Immigrants Arrested for Selected Crime 1993 - 1996 (Jan - Nov)

* Figures for the first 11 months of 1995 are placed within brackets.

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Annex C

No. of Chinese IIs Arrested for Crime by Region 1994 - 1996 (Jan - Oct)

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Annex D

Vietnamese Arrested for Selected Crime 1993 - 1996 (Jan - Nov)

* Figures for the first 11 months of 1995 are placed within brackets.

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Annex E

IIs Arrest during Anti-II Operations

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