Only a small number of Mainland visitors engage in illegal activities in Hong Kong, Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee says.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Mr Lee said the Government is concerned that a high proportion of illegal workers or prostitutes arrested in Hong Kong hold  commercial permits issued by Mainland authorities.

He believed that the culprits may have used false information to get the permits, adding that his department has notified Mainland officials of the situation.

The Government set up an inter-departmental working group early this year to combat the problem.

Enforcement against illegal workers stepped up

Apart from exchanging intelligence with Mainland security authorities, he said, the Government has stepped up its enforcement against these illegal activities.

Immigration checks at the boundary have also been enhanced. Suspected illegal workers will not be allowed to enter Hong Kong, he added.

He admitted that under the present financial situation, it is difficult to have additional manpower to handle the increase in tourists.

Mr Lee also noted that 39 applications were received after the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was launched on October 27. Of them, eight were from Canada, five from the Philippines, and four from New Zealand.