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5.8 During the Cultural Revolution, widespread unrest throughout
China spilled over into Hong Kong, especially in 1967/68. The
imprisonment of rioters in Hong Kong and the refusal to bend to
Chinese pressure for their release led to the sacking of the British
Mission in Peking. China now displays a much more relaxed and pragmatic
attitude towards Hong Kong and has been notably cooperative in recent
years. There are substantial, and increasing, Chinese investments in
Hong Kong and large numbers of Chinese officials in, for example, the
New China News Agency (NCNA) and the Bank of China and many trading
and other organisations. The Hong Kong Government's regular contacts
with the Chinese authorities are relaxed and easy; every indication is
that the Chinese do not wish to disturb the status quo. The present
Chinese Government have made it clear that they regard Hong Kong in its present form as making an important contribution to the modern- isation of the Chinese economy. China needs the foreign exchange to
pay for much of its import of technology over the next few years.
China, therefore, has a vested interest in Hong Kong's prosperity in
the foreseeable future. Statements by Chinese officials have been
aimed at maintaining confidence and thus prosperity. These were
repeated when Lord Carrington visited China in April 1981 and during
the Lord Privy Seal's visit in January 1982.
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IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA
5.9 Hong Kong's capacity to accept immigrants, even temporarily, is
severely limited by the strain imposed on its essential services by an
already overcrowded population Hong Kong is one of the most densely
Immigration thus constitutes a constant
populated places in the world.
problem.
Ay
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5.10 The vast bulk of immigrants come from China. Between 1971 and
1973 their numbers increased so fast from about 13,500 to some 74,000
a year that in November 1974 Hong Kong was obliged to introduce a
policy of returning to China illegal immigrants apprehended while
entering the Territory, except where there were strong humanitarian
reasons not to do so. This policy succeeded until 1978 in greatly
/reducing
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