Rise in illegal immigrants in Hong Kong needs measured response
- Cases of South Asians stranded in Hong Kong waters have highlighted activity that puts lives at risk and creates a problem for city
It must have been an ordeal for the nine Pakistani men allegedly dumped by human traffickers on a remote island in Hong Kong and left for two days with neither food nor water. A fisherman eventually heard their cries and police rescued the group, who were among more than 100 people from South Asian countries detained in recent weeks for entering illegally. Last month, 13 men from Bangladesh were found stranded on Shek Kwu Chau Island. In September, eight people from Pakistan, India and Afghanistan were arrested when they were found off Tai A Chau Island, floating in life jackets and only rescued after a 13-hour search.
The surge in such cases has been linked to a relaxation of pandemic restrictions on travel and an increase in flights to the mainland from South Asia. Some of those arrested said they flew from Pakistan to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, then to areas near Hong Kong where they hired “snakeheads” to smuggle them to the city by speedboat.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said in many cases immigrants who surrender to police try to claim non-refoulement status, which allows them to remain in the city for a few years while seeking asylum abroad. Tang aims to discourage those who hope to work illegally while awaiting an asylum decision, saying the city is “not attractive” since “only about 1 per cent of applicants could eventually attain non-refoulement status”.
It is to be welcomed that authorities have stepped up patrols and asked for support from mainland colleagues to tackle the problem. But officials must also do more to discourage the hiring of illegal workers, which undermines programmes aimed at attracting talent to help ease the city’s labour shortage. However, efforts to control illegal immigration must not have a negative impact on legitimate travel both to and from the city. Tens of thousands of South Asians are here legally, and they perform essential roles in service industries, and sectors such as banking, information technology and shipping.
Hong Kong has struggled with increases in illegal immigration in the past. It is time again for a measured response to counter a practice that is dangerous for those hoping to find better lives without damaging efforts to bolster the workforce.
