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PS/Mr Maude
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J Morris
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The Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Lyell QC MP
House of Commons
London
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Thank you for your letter of 6 April enclosing one from your constituent Mr Hulley of 23 Brook Street, Stotfold, Hitchin, Herts, about the prospect of emigration from Hong Kong.
Let me begin by acknowledging the strength of Mr Hulley's views and of those who hold similar opinions. The Government accepts without reservation that, because the United Kingdom is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe, it follows that, in terms of housing, education social services and, of course, jobs we cannot possibly support all those who would like to settle here. Since taking office in 1979 the government has comprehensively revised the Immigration Rules to ensure that the numbers admitted for work and settlement are reduced to a minimum, and that those who are admitted, for whatever purpose, do not fall a burden on public funds.
The various measures taken to improve our system of immigration control have proved to be very effective. The results of this policy can clearly be seen in the numbers of people from overseas who are granted settlement here every year. Between 1979 and 1988 the number has fallen from 70,000 to about 50,000. also been determined to take effective action against those who break the immigration laws for example by overstaying or working without permission. In the Immigration Act 1988 we introduced measures to strengthen the enforcement arrangements and this contributed to a 50% rise from 2,000 in 1987 to 3,000 in 1988 in the numbers removed from the United Kingdom under these powers. The government has never claimed, however, that it would be desirable or feasible to end immigration altogether. It would be damaging to the country's