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DC
6 The Chinese response to such respresntations has been a
strong reaction against the idea of a quota, The argument has been
0 made about the right of free movement of Chinese nationals, and an
explanation given that the present upsurge in numbers applying for
and being granted Chinese exit permits is a result of a change in
policy towards Overseas Chinese and their relatives who had been
prevented from leaving China, even on visits, by the tough line
imposed by the "Gang of Four". Many of the present applicants
represented the backlog that had accumulated during the period of
the 'Gang's" influence, and the flow would diminish and stabilise
in due course. The Chinese also expounded the argument that the
relative gap between the standard of living in Guangdong and in
Hong Kong would narrow as a result of China's continued modernisa-
tion, in particular with the development of Guangdong around the
commercial/industrial complexes at Shenzhen and Zhuhai. This
argument may or may not be sound, but is based on a long-term
projection. It is in essence no different from that used more than
twenty years ago (see paragraph 4 above).
On the other hand, there are indications that the Chinese
authorities recognise the practical need to restrict the present high
rate of emigration to Hong Kong. There is an evident Chinese
1 interest in helping to ensure that the Hong Kong Government can
cope with the influx. Thus, through action by the Chinese
authorities, the number of arrivals from China has declined from a
high point of 310 per day in December 1978 to a current state of
arg about 190 per day. This has been achieved by an overall reduction
in the number of exit permits issued by the Chinese.
40
118
Chinese Travel documents. Chinese exit permits fall into
two general categories -one providing for a one-way journey, the
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