Fewer torture claimants have come forward since a law making the employment of illegal immigrants a crime came into force a year ago, a Security Bureau spokesman said. Between last November and last month, the Immigration Department received an average of 170 new claims per month from people illegally in Hong Kong of torture in their home country, a third fewer than the year before. Meanwhile, the number of claims withdrawn doubled to 1,400. The department screened 122 claimants and gave them its decision. About 6,700 outstanding cases remain.