(BCTV) - A crackdown on two continents is underway to help put a stop to the illegal smuggling of humans to this province. Immigration officials are bracing to handle even more Asian migrants than arrived last year - a summer influx of perhaps 10 to 12 new migrant ships. In Ottawa, the federal government has just introduced some tough new legislation to get at the problem. In Asia, authorities are taking their own measures now. As it happens, the News Hour has just returned from Hong Kong where our report begins.

Rae-Anne Morin, reporting: "Here at the (Kwie Chung) terminal in Hong Kong, thousands of shipping containers are loaded onto vessels every day. Many of these ships are headed to North American ports and, customs officials worry that some illegal Chinese migrants may be along for the ride.

Besides physically searching for humans in these containers, customs officers are also using high-tech devices like this carbon dioxide detector to make sure the cargo is legal and that migrants hoping for a better life in Canada aren't holed up inside.

There are plans to buy a larger scanning device that will allow inspectors see inside the containers without having to open them up.

Security measures have also been stepped up at the border between Mainland China and Hong Kong; 12 hundred police officers patrol the 35-kilometre fence. Guards carefully scrutinize each vehicle that goes through, visually checking for people hiding on top, using special cameras to spot those hiding underneath.

Customs officials here hope these extra measures will help stem the tide of illegal migrants coming our way this summer, but admit with the lure of a better life, some may find a way around the high security."

The Canadian crackdown comes in the form of legislation -- a new bill that creates severe penalties for anyone who smuggles illegal immigrants and speeds up the screening process for the migrants who do arrive here. Clem Chapple has that part of the story:

"The very public arrival of several human smuggling ships off the B.C. coast last summer sparked outrage amongst many Canadians. It spotlighted many inadequacies in Canada's refugee laws, which are regarded internationally as some of the softest, an impression Ottawa clearly wants to change, now."

Elinor Caplan, Immigration Minister: "I will not mince words. It is a tough bill, but let's be clear, it is tough on criminal abuse of our immigration and refugee protection systems."

Clem Chapple, reporting: "While there was some sympathy for the smuggled migrants there was none for the smugglers, who would get rich while driving the migrants into lives of near slavery. Under the new law, the snakeheads will have the book thrown at them. New penalties for trafficking in humans include a one million dollar fine and life in prison.

At the same refugee claimants trying to enter Canada through the back door will face a tough welcome. New front-end security checks, clearly defined detention in the case of smuggled or criminal claimants, a crackdown on counterfeit identification documents, tighter screening before they leave their homeland, and fewer appeals of immigration decisions."

Elinor Caplan, Immigration Minister: "Canadians have made it clear they want a system based on respect, respect for our laws and respect for our tradition of openness to newcomers."

Clem Chapple, reporting: "The new law also sets out to speed up legitimate immigration and seek out, in the minister's words, the best and the brightest. It also purports to speed up family reunification, but a Vancouver immigration organization points out that the word "parents" is not included in the definition of family."

Penny Chan, "Success": "I think this is very important. We think that this will raise a lot of concerns in our community, because, parents is an important issue in the culture of Asian families. It has a lot to do with the success of new immigrants being able to settle nicely in the new country, also in terms of family development, you know, for children to be able to have grandparents with them."

Clem Chapple, reporting: "The words 'immigrant' and 'refugee' took a beating in 1999. It remains to be seen whether the new legislation can turn that around."