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(f)
What is the total flow of dependants, fianceés, etc from Hong Kong? What categories does it comprise, and what are the figures for recent years?
According to the Immigration Statistics presented to Parliament by the Home Office for 1973 (Cmnd 5603) and 1974 (Cmnd 6064) the total numbers of persons admitted from Hong Kong were 17,984 (1,295 for settlement) and 17,840 (1,271 for settlement) respectively. A table is attached showing the breakdown into the categories used by the Home Office.
(g) what, in the broadest outline, would be the immigration implications of a hypothetical Chinese decision to take over Hong Kong?
It is very difficult to form a view. Much would depend
on eg:-
(i) when a takeover took place and whether it was the
subject of a prior announcement. A takeover could
occur before, on or after the expiry of the lease on the New Territories in 1997 (or not at all). Given that the number of British subjects is continually increasing see the answer to (a) above the immigration implications could vary according to when a Chinese takeover took place; (ii) whether a takeover was forcible or negotiated,
ie done with HMG's/Hong Kong's concurrence; (iii) what assurances, if any, the Chinese gave to the
population of Hong Kong, especially British subjects, regarding their future safety and well-being;
(iv)
(v)
to what extent the population, especially British subjects, considered that their safety and well- being, despite any Chinese assurances, required them to leave Hong Kong and the extent to which they chose to regard the UK as a haven;
the political and economic situation in China
at the time.