POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION
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Population
The population increased by 76 300 during the year to 5.81 million, a growth rate of 1.33 per cent. The increase consisted of a migration balance of 35 300, and of natural growth, that is births minus deaths, of 41 000.
Emigration
The subject of emigration began to attract media and public attention in late 1987 when there were signs that more people were leaving Hong Kong. A government task force was established in May 1988 to ascertain the facts. After putting together evidence from a variety of sources it concluded that 30 000 persons emigrated in 1987 and 45 800 in 1988 compared to a historical average in the early 1980s of around 20 000. The forecast for 1989 was 42 000. The reason for the increase was a combination of factors; on the one hand some people were nervous about Hong Kong's future after 1997 under Chinese sovereignty, while at the same time there were more immigration opportunities available in the more popular destination countries. The task force's research also revealed that, while a disproportionate number of emigrants were well educated and professionally skilled, the total number of such people in the community was continuing to rise.
Legal Immigration
During the year, the number of new arrivals from the mainland remained steady at about - 27 300. Of these, 9 565 were wives, 13 216 were children and 937 were husbands of local
residents.
Illegal Immigration
Illegal immigration has been a long-standing problem for Hong Kong. A large number of illegal immigrants were found at places of employment. They were prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment before they were repatriated. Employers of illegal immigrants were also prosecuted and fined and in serious cases, custodial sentences were imposed. In July 1989, legislation was introduced to provide for more effective checks against the employment of illegal immigrants.
During the year, on average, 43 illegal immigrants were arrested each day, compared with a daily average of 57 arrests in 1988.
Personal Documentation
There has been a dramatic increase in the demand for passports and certificates of identity in 1989, particularly during the latter half of the year. Demand for passports increased by 72 per cent to 345 400, inclusive of 49 519 passports issued to persons with the status of British National (Overseas). Demand for certificates of identity also increased by 31 per cent to 167 400. This unprecedented upsurge in the demand for travel documents was believed to be partly attributable to the public's psychological reaction to events in China and to the change in the pattern of vacation destinations from China to other countries.
The demand for re-entry permits for travel to China and Macau continued to drop. Nevertheless, re-entry permits still accounted for 43 per cent of the 910 500 travel documents issued.
Identity cards issued up to June 30, 1987 are being replaced with permanent or ordinary identity cards in a four-year phased programme which began in July 1987. The new cards have no expiry date and, with the agreement of the Chinese government, will remain valid beyond July 1, 1997, and until such time as they are replaced by the future Hong Kong