CONFIDENTIAL
Illegal Immigration
Nature and Volume of Trade
20. Since 1950 the Hong Kong Government has found it
necessary to restrict entry from the mainland and the
quota for legal immigration from the Kwangtung Province
is fifty a day. Strict measures are taken against illegal
immigration from China but because of the Colony's
geographical situation it is impossible to maintain
complete control. The Chinese border authorities
maintain a tight control on their side of the frontier
and there have been several incursions in recent months
by small parties of Chinese civilians from the mainland
into British territory in search of illegal emigrants
from China. No attempt is made by the Hong Kong authorities
to seek out and return those who succeed in entering the
Colony undetected. But illegal immigrants who are
intercepted are normally returned to China in accordance
with international practice when enquiries have failed
to reveal any good reason why they should not be so returned.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
21. Hong Kong's prosperity prior to 1950 rested on the
entrepot trade, principally with China. With the advent
of a Communist Government in China this trade dwindled
rapidly and in its place industry has assumed a dominant role. In 1949 Hong Kong's total trade (imports and exports)
was £317m: in 1969 it was £2,011m. Since Hong Kong has
to export to live it has long been the policy of the
Government to maintain free entry for all goods from
abroad other than a few items on which there is a tariff
for revenue purposes.
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CONFIDENTIAL