'Racist' visa move defended

Claims of racial discrimination in shortening the visa-free stays for South Asian nationals were dismissed by the Secretary for Security.

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said restrictions cutting stays from three months to 14 days for visitors from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were intended to combat illegal workers and immigrants.

She said Immigration Department records persistently showed that more visitors from these three countries were involved in illegal employment and overstaying than other foreign nationals.

Last year, 92 Indian, Pakistani and Bangladesh visitors were arrested for illegal employment, accounting for 52 per cent of all arrests.

At the same time, 389 visitors from those countries were arrested for overstaying, accounting for 34 per cent of such by foreign visitors.

'In times of high domestic unemployment, we cannot afford to maintain an over-generous visa-free treatment if the illegal employment and overstaying figures continue to be a cause for concern,' she said.