Hong Kong legislature passes immigration law amendment

Hong Kong’s legislature passed an amendment in the immigration procedure which seeks to empower the immigration chief to direct that a passenger or a crew member may not board an aircraft flying to the city at the third reading debate on Wednesday.

The bill was approved with the support of 39 lawmakers in a vote today afternoon, with two lawmakers voted against the motion. The bill is set to come into effect on August 1.

The amendment will empower immigration authorities requesting airlines not to “allow individual persons to board the plane” to Hong Kong, and to provide them with passenger information before a flight departs.

It would also empower the secretary for security to make the relevant regulations, as the bureau hoped to “reduce at source the number of non-ethnic Chinese illegal immigrants and overstayers” who might lodge asylum bids, according to a paper the bureau earlier submitted to the Legislative Council.

Hong Kong’s security chief John Lee Ka-chiu said the amendment will only target incoming flights, reassuring the public that Hongkongers leaving the city will not be affected.

He said the move was meant to fulfil the city’s obligation under the Convention on International Civil Aviation to put in place an Advance Passenger Information system.

“So far, over 90 countries already have the API system in place, including the European Union member states, the US, Canada and Australia,” Lee added.

“It will not affect the rights of Hong Kong residents and people with the right to enter and stay in Hong Kong.”