The Force and the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau met on May 29 to exchange intelligence on combating illegal immigration and to discuss security at both land and sea boundaries. A briefing was given at the meeting on overall situations of illegal immigration in 2007 and the first quarter of 2008.

The meeting was chaired by Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Suen Kwai-leung. Those present included representatives from the Operations Wing in Police Headquarters, Marine Region, Border District and Yuen Long District (Shenzhen Bay Port), and a delegation of 12 officers led by the Deputy Director of Guangdong Border Defence Bureau, Mr Zhou Guoqing.

In the past year, the Force stepped up operations to intercept illegal immigrants and combat illegal workers, while, Guangdong, in coordination with these operations, also mounted large-scale operations against illegal immigration and illegal entry to Hong Kong, in particular by Non-ethnic Chinese. Through a joint intelligence exchange mechanism, both sides had mounted joint operations, which succeeded in cracking a number of cases involving the snakeheads and syndicates which arranged Mainland or Non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants enter Hong Kong.

During the meeting, both sides had lengthy discussion and deliberation on the strategic partnership and collaboration, as well as the police work on matters concerning anti-illegal immigration and security at land and sea boundaries in both Hong Kong and Guangdong. They also agreed to take a radical approach and implement the countering measures against the influx of Non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants in order to curb its effect, contain the situation and combat cross-boundary crimes.

Mr Suen thanked the Guangdong Border Defence Bureau for providing valuable support prior to and during the period when the Torch Relay was staged in Hong Kong, contributing to combating cross-boundary crime and maintaining law and order at boundary crossings.

In reply, Mr Zhou pledged to step up security measures at the boundaries and take actions against illegal immigration during staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong.

The meeting has bolstered close ties

Assistant Commissioner (Operations) Suen Kwai-leung chairs the exchange meeting