POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION
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The policies aim on the one hand to keep at an acceptable level population growth brought about by immigration and, on the other hand, to facilitate the admission of persons, including those of outstanding talent, professionals and investors who would bring substantial benefits to help develop the economy. Immigration procedures for Hong Kong residents, tourists and business people are streamlined. Effort is also made to prevent the entry of undesirable persons and the departure of persons wanted for criminal offences.
The department has implemented a long-term information systems strategy through the application of advanced technology. Immigration officers pay regular visits overseas to maintain close liaison with their counterparts abroad.
Immigration Control
The HKSAR maintains a very liberal visa policy for visitors. People from about 170 countries and territories may come to the HKSAR visa-free for visits ranging from seven days to six months. Passenger traffic grew considerably in 2000, with 144 million people moving in and out of the HKSAR, up 11.6 per cent from the 129 million in 1999. The growth was mainly attributable to heavy cross-boundary traffic over land after the reunification. In all, 101.7 million land passengers and 11.2 million vehicular movements were recorded for 2000, an increase of 12.6 per cent and 9.8 per cent over the 1999 figures — 90.3 million and 10.2 million, respectively.
The number of visitors travelling to the HKSAR also rose from 11.33 million in 1999 to 13.06 million in 2000, up 15.3 per cent. These included 3.79 million from the Mainland and 2.39 million from Taiwan.
Legal Immigration
The Mainland is the major source of the HKSAR's immigrant population. During the year, 57 530 Mainland residents came to settle in the HKSAR under the One-way Permit Scheme with a daily quota of 150. Most of them came to Hong Kong for family reunion.
Certificate of Entitlement Scheme
Under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law, persons of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong of Hong Kong permanent residents shall be permanent residents of the HKSAR and enjoy right of abode (ROA). The Immigration Ordinance stipulates that in order for a person to qualify for ROA under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law, at least one of his parents must be a Chinese citizen who has ROA at the time of his birth. The Government introduced the Certificate of Entitlement Scheme on July 10, 1997, under which a person's status as a permanent resident of the HKSAR under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law can be established only by his holding a valid travel document (i.e. a One Way Permit) with a valid C of E affixed to it. This arrangement enables systematic verification of ROA claims and ensures orderly entry. Since July 1, 1997, 85 412 C of E holders have entered Hong Kong.
Shortly after the reunification, legal proceedings were instituted by ROA claimants to challenge the 'time-of-birth' requirement in the Immigration Ordinance and the requirement that persons eligible for ROA under BL 24(2)(3) are subject to the exit approval provided for under BL 22(4). This ultimately led to the judgment of the