CATASV
RESTRICTED
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY LORD GLENARTHUR, 16-19 SEPTEMBER
BACKGROUND BRIEF G: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
1.
Illegal immigration from China has been a serious problem for many years. Prior to October 1980, immigrants entering Hong Kong from China illegally were allowed to stay by the Hong Kong Government if they reached the urban area without being captured by the security forces. In 1980 alone, 64,000 illegal immigrants
entered Hong Kong under this "reach base" or "touch base" policy; a
further 82,000 were caught in the New Territories and sent back to
China. On 23 October 1980 the "reach base" policy was discontinued.
From then on, all illegal immigrants who were discovered by the
security forces were sent back. In 1982, nearly 8,700 were captured
at the border and 2,500 elsewhere. By 1983, the number caught on
entry had fallen to just under 4,100 and a further 3,000 evaders
(those not caught at or near the border) were arrested or
surrendered.
2.
The practice of racketeer-organised smuggling into Hong Kong of the children of recent legal immigrants from China appears to have died down in recent months, following a one-day registration
exercise for child illegal immigrants on 28 April 1987. The Hong
Kong Government emphasised at that time that all illegal immigrants
would be returned, regardless of whether they were children or
adults.
Recent Trends
3.
The figures for 1984, 1985, 1986 and the first half of 1987
are
1987
1984
1985
1986
(1 Jan
30 June)
Arrested on entry
9,635
12,616
16,802
10,668
Evaders arrested
or surrendered
3,090
3,394
3,725
1,973
RESTRICTED