IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM
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pressure. Facilities for travellers there were greatly improved during the year with a new, temporary terminal building coming into use in November. The 36 immigration desks. (compared with 19 in the old building) are capable of clearing some 2 000 passengers an hour in each direction. This is the first step towards providing a permanent modern terminal in keeping with Lo Wu's status as the busiest gateway to China.
Commencing in September, businessmen with substantial investments in the neighbouring Shenzhen economic zone were permitted direct access to the zone by private car. Initially, 100 permits have been issued. Further expansion of private car traffic is dependent on improved road links. Meanwhile, commercial vehicle movements continued to increase to an average of 1 500 daily, compared with 1 200 in 1981.
Illegal immigration from China, despite showing some increase over the 1981 figure, remained at a reasonably low level as measured by the number of arrests. On average, 23 illegal immigrants a day were arrested on entry, compared with 21 in 1981. A further six illegal immigrants, who had evaded arrest on entry, were arrested each day, compared with five each day in 1981. This dramatic reduction from the September 1980 figures of 450 arrests a day on entry is attributed to the change of policy in October 1980 - by which illegal immigrants can no longer become legal residents - and to constant vigilance by the security forces, rather than to any reduction in the number of potential immigrants. The effectiveness of the policy was underlined by a steady trickle of illegal immigrants, who had failed to establish themselves here and were without means of identification, surrendering themselves for repatriation.
Personal Documentation
The demand for travel documents during 1982 levelled off at just over one million, similar to the 1981 figure. The re-entry permit for travel to China and Macau accounted for some 67
per cent of all issues.
The number of identity cards replaced by reason of loss, defacement or amendment decreased from 381 000 in 1981 to 360 000 in 1982, mainly because fewer changes of registered particulars were recorded. The total number of identity cards in circulation at December 31, 1982, was 5 081 227, an increase of 115 041 during the year.
During the year, some 962 forged or counterfeit identity cards were detected by law enforcement agencies, usually resulting in prosecution of the offender and a jail sentence of up to 12 months, occasionally longer, followed by repatriation to the place of origin. Against this background, planning continued for a new, more secure identity card and the replacement of all existing cards over a four-year period commencing in 1983. Much of the computer equipment was installed and fitting-out work of the eight replacement centres commenced. The replacement procedures are designed to prevent holders of counterfeit or forged cards from obtaining a new card, yet to inconvenience the general public as little as possible.
Vietnamese Refugees
International concern at the continuing plight of the Vietnamese boat people during the year was overshadowed by events in other parts of the world. For Hong Kong, however, the problem of the Vietnamese refugees persists, with diminishing prospects of resettlement overseas.
At the beginning of the year there were nearly 13 000 Vietnamese refugees still in Hong Kong. During the first quarter, resettlement overseas continued to outstrip new arrivals, albeit at the much reduced ratio of four to one when compared with the previous two years.