Vice Minister of Public Security Bai Jingfu declared on August 7 at a press conference that no mainland offenders would be allowed to visit or move to Hong Kong.

With the implementation of the new regulation that people in the mainland may apply for the pass to travel in Hong Kong as individuals, more mainland residents will visit Hong Kong. "It is therefore unavoidable that among them there will be a few criminal offenders," said Bai. "But the Ministry of Public Security will closely cooperate with the Hong Kong police to crack down any serious crime. In the meantime, our policy and work will not allow any occurrence of migration to or overstay in Hong Kong with such travel permissions."

Bai made these remarks while addressing the press conference in Beijing sponsored by the State Council Information Office on August 7.

Bai noted that the policy issued by the Ministry of Public Security has relaxed restrictions on people who want to travel, sightsee, study or work in Hong Kong. The new regulation can not only satisfy Chinese mainlanders' wishes to visit Hong Kong but also promote the development of Hong Kong's tourism and its economy as a whole. The policy will greatly benefit Chinese residents in the mainland as well as the citizens of Hong Kong. However, nothing is perfect, when more and more people are going to Hong Kong, it is unavoidable that some criminals will take chances too.

"Chinese police has paid great attention to the stability of Hong Kong and the condition of Hong Kong's social security as well as the safety of the Hong Kong compatriots' lives and properties," said Bai. "The mainland police has been keeping a very close cooperative relationship with the Hong Kong police for many years." He took as an example the issue that the notorious Hong Kong criminal gang of Zhang Ziqiang was eradicated in the mainland, a result of the close cooperation between mainland police and Hong Kong police. "Any criminal who dares to defy the law will end like Zhang Ziqiang," the vice minister added.

(China.org.cn August 8, 2003)