return to Hong Kong. Some who have returned to Hong Kong
in the first instance may leave again. The reason for
all these choices are very personal and depend on a
variety of factors.
15.
However we can make some interpretation of
past figures. Given that in 1987, there were some 30,000
new emigrants and a net outflow of 27,000, then there
were probably around 3,000 returned emigrants that year
(or more accurately, a positive balance of 3,000 on flow
of returned emigrants).
15.
If numbers returning this year are about the
same as last year, the net outflow figure for 1988 will
be about 46,000. As is made clear above, this figure is
subject to a number of assumptions. The main reason for
giving it now is that the net outflow figure has been the
one must widely quoted by government spokesmen in the
past including the Governor, the Chief Secretary and
the Secretary for Administrative Services and
Information. Therefore, some time in early 1989, we will
be expected to quote a similar figure in respect of 1988
and failure to do so would create PR problems of its
own. If the figure is indeed in excess of 40,000, that
will represent an increase of over 50% compared to 1987
which was itself the highest in the 1980s.