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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1974.
EMIGRATION PROCEDURES CLARIFIED
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ADMITTANCE OF IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG TO OTHER COUNTRIES IS A MATTER ENTIRELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED, AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CAN NOT INTERFERE IN THE MATTER.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION RAISED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON. WOO PAK-CHUEN.
MR. DAVIES ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY CONSCIOUS OF THE PROBLEMS POSED BY IMMIGRANTS IN THIS ALREADY DENSELY POPULATED TERRITORY AND IT IS NOT IN OUR INTEREST TO PREVENT THOSE WHO CAN DO SO 'FROM LEAVING.+
HOWEVER, HE DREW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE A NATIONAL PASSPORT OR VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND THOSE WHO DO NOT.
THOSE WITH VALID DOCUMENTS, HE SAID, SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY OVER ONWARD TRAVEL.
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+FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO VALID DOCUMENT THE POSITION IS THAT MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES WILL ONLY ADMIT CHINESE FROM HONG KONG IF THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF A CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
+SUCH A CERTIFICATE GIVES IN EFFECT RESIDENT STATUS AND THEREFORE CONFERS UPON IMMIGRANTS THE RIGHT OF RE-ENTRY TO HONG KONG TO LIVE HERE PERMANENTLY SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO
· DO SO.+
THE GREATEST MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS, MR. DAVIES SAID ENTERED HONG ONG UNDER EXIT PERMITS ISSUED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHICH ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE CHINA TO VISIT HONG KONG OR ELSEWHERE.
+ALTHOUGH SUCH PERSONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HONG KONG TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, THEY ARE NOT ENTIRELY PREVENTED FROM TRAVELLING AND, IN FACT, MANY OF THEM DO SO USING DECLARATIONS OF IDENTITY WHICH CARRY RE-ENTRY VISAS FOR HONG KONG WITHIN THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE PERMITTED TO STAY KERE.+
IN CASES WHERE APPLICANTS CAN PROVE THAT THEY WISH TO EMIGRATE PERMANENTLY, HE ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL CASES ON THEIR MERITS AND TO' ISSUE. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OF LIMITED VALIDITY.
HOWEVER, IT WAS ENTIRELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED WHETHER TO ADHIT IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS, AND THE HUNG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD NOT INTERFERE IN THIS MATTER.
+IN THIS RESPECT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO RE-ADMIT FORMER RESIDENTS WHO LEFT ́ THEIR COUNTRY SOME YEARS AGO,+ HE NOTED.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION, MR. DAVIES REVEALED THAT DRAFT AMENDED LEGISLATION WOULD BE SUBMITTED SHORTLY TO DO AWAY WITH THE NEED FOR IMMIGRANTS TO REGISTER AND RE-REGISTER SEVERAL TIMES FOR HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS.
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