AS someone who wishes to stay and live in Hong Kong, I find my ability to do this being hindered by the Immigration Department's poor procedures for handling immigration visa applications. Early in July I applied for a work permit at the Immigration Department's Wan Chai office. I had a letter of employment from a local firm which was and still is prepared to employ me. I was told at that initial interview that I could expect a decision in six to eight weeks. This information I relayed back to my prospective employer. I was also told at the initial interview not to go back to the Immigration Department until I was contacted by them as this would delay the process of my application. That is something I have not done. Time passed and after eight weeks I had still not received any correspondence from the Immigration Department, so I decided to contact my sponsor and ask if they had received any information. They also had not, so they decided to contact the Immigration Department on my behalf. They were told that the Immigration Department had never received my application at all. Of course I had proof that I had submitted an application in the form of a card which had my application number on it and some information regarding my application. My sponsor pursued the matter further and was then told that my application was ''lost'' on the top of a desk for a month! The Immigration Department promised that my application would be given ''priority'' treatment and my sponsor would soon be contacted. That was almost one month ago and still no news. I have written to the Immigration Department but as of yet they have declined to reply even after three weeks. It seems to me that the Immigration Department feels that it has a god-like power over people's lives and like all self-divine people or organisations it is a law unto itself. It has little regard for ordinary people's feelings or needs. Remember what you are Immigration Department? No, you are not some divine organisation; you are purely and simply civil servants. Perhaps you should begin serving the people who pay your salary. I may not be one of those people but I hope that I can be - maybe! NIGEL CHURCH New Territories
