The Government will launch a comprehensive review of the strategy in handling non-refoulement claims, Director of Immigration Chan Kwok-ki said today.
The review will study pre-arrival control, screening procedures, detention and enforcement.
Delivering the Immigration Department's year-end review of its work in 2015, Mr Chan said a rising trend has been observed in people lodging claims for non-refoulement upon arrival in Hong Kong.
The number of non-refoulement claims made at immigration checkpoints have more than doubled in recent years, growing from 150 in 2013 to 322 last year.
Mr Chan said the department will strengthen controls at immigration checkpoints and conduct special operations against suspicious visitors.
The department has had multiple meetings with the Indian Consul-General in recent months to express its concerns about agencies allegedly arranging for Indian nationals to enter Hong Kong for unlawful employment.
The department will also contact the consulates of other countries, such as Vietnam and Pakistan, to discuss the issue.
On the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, which launched last year as pilot scheme, he said the department received 211 applications and approved 108 by the end of last year.
Mr Chan said the department will visit numerous countries and work with Hong Kong's Economic & Trade Offices to promote the city's talent admission schemes this year.
Last year, the total number of visitor arrivals reached 59.3 million, a 2.5% fall on 2014. Mainland visitors to Hong Kong dropped 2.9% from the previous year to 45.62 million.
