POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION
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has adopted a threefold strategy
it is more flexible over proposals for importing skills from neighbouring countries, it has increased the number of graduates from Hong Kong's tertiary institutions and it is facilitating the return of former migrants. It was estimated that at least 12 per cent of persons who emigrated in the 10 years before 1994 have returned to Hong Kong.
The government, with the assistance of other governments, also sought to retain people in Hong Kong through various schemes, such as the British Nationality Selection Scheme and the United States' deferred immigrant visas scheme. The British Nationality Selec- tion Scheme, which began in December 1990, enables up to 50 000 persons and their dependants to acquire British citizenship without having to leave Hong Kong. The first phase of the scheme ended on January 1, 1994. The second and final phase, which began on January 3, 1994, is progressing on course. By the end of 1994, 37 670 principal applicants and 65 013 dependants had been registered as British citizens under the scheme. It is expected that registration of all the successful applicants in the general occupational class and the disciplined services class will be completed in late 1995. The special provision in the United States Immigration Act of 1990, which allows the deferred take-up of immigrant visas up to the end of the year 2001, would enable beneficiaries to have the confidence to continue to stay and work in Hong Kong.
Personal Documentation
- During the year, 1 050 000 passports were issued, up 130 per cent from 1993. This total included 1 023 244 British National (Overseas) passports, compared to 412 744 in 1993. The sharp increase was mainly attributable to the introduction of a worldwide phased programme of registration for the British National (Overseas) passports in July 1993. Eligible persons are called forward by age groups to apply for these passports before specific cut-off dates. The aim of the programme is to ensure that all Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens who wish to obtain British National (Overseas) status are issued with such passports before 1997. The first three phases for persons born from 1967 to 1971, 1962 to 1966 and 1957 to 1961 have been completed. At the end of the year, 1 872 629 persons had been registered as British Nationals (Overseas). Hong Kong British Dependent Territories citizens are allowed to hold both valid British Dependent Territories Citizen and British National (Overseas) passports.
The demand for Certificates of Identity decreased slightly by 4.9 per cent to 124 100. There was a decrease in the demand for re-entry permits, which accounted for 11 per cent of the 1 323 000 travel documents issued.
There are two types of identity cards — the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card which states that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Identity Card which does not state that right. These identity cards will remain valid beyond July 1, 1997, until they are replaced by the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
In order to enhance the standard of service to the public, the department introduced, in December 1994, a fully automated telephone booking system to accept appointment bookings for identity card services through touch-tone telephones. The system, welcomed by the public, will eventually replace the queuing-for-a-tag system at the department's offices.