Tougher laws planned to cut down on asylum seekers

Oct 25, 2009, 10:17 GMT

   Hong Kong - Tougher laws are being planned to make it a criminal offence for illegal immigrants seeking political asylum to work in Hong Kong, government broadcaster RTHK said Sunday.

   Police have intercepted hundreds of illegal immigrants, mainly from South Asian and African countries, entering the territory since a court ruling in March which allowed asylum seekers to work in Hong Kong while their applications were being assessed.

   The Immigration Department received more than 2,400 applications, mostly from illegal immigrants, for political asylum between January and September. More than 90 per cent of the claims were made after the immigrants were arrested by police.

   Police believe criminal gangs in China and Hong Kong are smuggling illegal immigrants from the mainland to the territory, telling them they can work if they apply for asylum, the report said.

It said the gangs, commonly known as snakeheads, have been charging people about 6,000 Hong Kong dollars (769 dollars) to be smuggled across the border into Hong Kong by boat or truck.

   RTHK said Hong Kong's administration will present amendments in November to make it a criminal offence for those claiming asylum to take up jobs in the territory.