For discussion FCR(95-96)105
on 12 January 1996

ITEM FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 70 - IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
Subhead 202 Repatriation expenses

Members are invited to approve supplementary provision of $5.1 million to meet anticipated increase in expenditure on repatriation of Vietnamese migrants, immigration offenders and convicted criminals.

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PROBLEM
PROPOSAL
JUSTIFICATION
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Provision for Repatriation Expenses Required for 1995-96

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PROBLEM

The revised provision of the subhead is insufficient to meet anticipated expenditure on repatriation for the remainder of the financial year.

PROPOSAL

2. The Director of Immigration (D of Imm) proposes supplementary provision of $5.1 million under Subhead 202 Repatriation expenses.

JUSTIFICATION

3. Provision under Head 70 Immigration Department Subhead 202 Repatriation expenses is for the repatriation of Vietnamese migrants (VMs), ex-China Vietnamese illegal immigrants (ECVIIs), immigration offenders and convicted criminals. Since the number of repatriation cases is difficult to predict, we cannot accurately forecast the precise amount needed when preparing the draft Estimates. The original provision in the 1995-96 Estimates was $9,087,000. In September 1995, based on the information available then, the Secretary for the Treasury approved, under delegated authority, supplementary provision of $5,893,000 when it became apparent that the provision would be inadequate.

4. D of Imm has recently conducted another review of this subhead and concluded that a further $5.1 million would be needed for the remainder of 1995-96, as follows -

A more detailed breakdown is at the Enclosure.

5. The anticipated increase in expenditure is mainly due to the growing number of immigration offenders to be repatriated to their respective countries of origin and VMs to be repatriated under the Orderly Repatriation Programme.

6. In 1994-95, an average of 127 immigration offenders and convicted criminals each month required public funds for removal or deportation but the figure has risen to 156 in the first eight months of 1995-96. The increase is partly a result of the success in stepping up enforcement action against non-residents breaching their conditions of stay, including those engaging in unlawful employment or working in a field or profession different from that stipulated in their employment visas.

7. Also, in an effort to speed up the repatriation of VMs, we have arranged 11 operations for the orderly repatriation of VMs this year as compared to five operations in 1994-95. From April to December 1995, we have conducted seven operations resulting in the repatriation of 662 VMs. We plan to have four more operations between January and March 1996 to repatriate about 400 VMs.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

8. If Members approve the proposal, the supplementary provision required will be offset by deleting an equivalent amount under Head 106 Miscellaneous Services Subhead 251 Additional commitments.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

9. In 1994-95, we spent a total of $13,402,000 under this subhead for the repatriation of VMs, ECVIIs, immigration offenders and convicted criminals. The amount required for each repatriation operation is different, depending on the destination (i.e. the country of origin of the immigration offenders and convicted criminals, Vietnam for VMs, and China for ECVIIs) and the number of persons to be repatriated.

Security Branch
January 1996

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Enclosure to FCR(95-96)105

Provision for Repatriation Expenses Required for 1995-96

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