CONFIDENTIAL
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Illezal Prisration
18.
IMMIGRATION CONTROL AND REFUGEES
Kore than a million immigrants and refugees have entered
Hong Kong from China since 1950, Because other countries
have refused to accept Chinere immigrants and because the
refugees now constitute a substantial proportion of the popula-
tion of the Colony, the Hong Kong Government has been obliged
to follow a policy of integrating them into the community.
19. Since 1950 the Hong Kong Government has found it necostary
to restrict entry from the mainland and the quota for legal
Strict immigration from the Kangtung Province is fifty a day.
Leasures are taken against illegal immigration from China but
because of the Colony's geographicul situation it is impornible
to maintain complete control. The Chinese barder authoritica
maintain a tight control cn 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
No territory in search of illegal emigrants from China. 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.