1
UEDNESDAY, CAY 8, 1974.
EMIGRATION PROCEDURES CLARIFIED
ADMITTANCE OF IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KUNIG TO OTHER COUNTRIES IS A MATTER ENTIRELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED, AND THE HUNG KUNG GOVERNMENT CLIL NOT INTERFERE IN THE MATTER.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FUR SECURITY, THE HON. LEVIS DAVIES, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION RAISED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON. 100 PAK-CHUTU.
MR. DAVIES ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY CONSCIOUS OF THE PROBLEMIS POSED BY INCRANTS IN THIS ALREADY DENSELY POPULATED TERRITORY 4.0 IT IS NOT IN OUR INTEREST TO PREVENT THOSE WHO CAN DO SJ FROM LEAVING.+
-
HOWEVER, HE DREW A DISTINCTION LEMOEN TIDOS LABIGRANTS WHO HAVE A NATIONAL PASSPORT OR VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND THOSE WHO DO NOT.
THOSE WITH VALID DOCUMENTS, HE SAID, SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY OVER ONWARD TRAVEL.
+FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO VALID DOCUMENT THE POSITION IS THAT MANY FOREIGN COUNTRIES WILL ONLY ADMIT CHINESE FROM HONG KONG IF THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF A CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY ISSUED BY THE HUNG KONG GOVERNMENT.
+SUCH A CERTIFICATE GIVES IN EFFECT RESIDENT STATUS AND THEREFORE CONFERS UPON IMMIGRANTS THE RIGHT OF RE-ENTRY TO HONG KONG TO LIVE HERE PERKANENTLY SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO DO SO.+
HR
THE GREATEST MAJORITY OF LEHIGRANTS, R. DAVIES SAID ENTERED HONG ONG UNDER EXIT PERMITS ISSUED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHICH ALLOU THEN TO LEAVE CHINA TO VISIT HONG KONG UR ELSEWHERE.
+ALTHOUGH SUCH PERSONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HONG KONG TRAVEL DUCUMENTS, THEY ARE NOT ENTIRELY PREVENTED FROM TRAVELLING AND, IN FACT, MANY OF THEN DO SO USING DECLARATIONS OF IDENTITY WHICH CARRY RE-ENTRY VISAS FOR HONG KONG WITHIN THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY ARE PERMITTED TO STAY HERE.+
IN CASES WHERE APPLICANTS CAN PROVE THAT THEY WISH TO EMIGRATE PERMANENTLY, HE ADDED, THE GUVERN..BUT WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL CASES ON THEIR MERITS AND TO ISSUE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS OF LIMITED VALIDITY.
VEBRACE
+
HOWEVER, IT WAS ENTIRELY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED WHETHER TO ADMIT IMMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS, AND THE HUNG KONG CUVERNMENT COULD NOT INTERFERE IN THIS MATTER.
+1N THIS RESPECT SOME COUNTRIES HAVE HADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED TO RE-ADH1IT FORMER RESIDENTS WHO LEFT' THEIR COUNTRY SOME YEARS AGO,+ HE NOTED.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION, MR. DAVIES REVEALED THAT DRAFT AMENDED LEGISLATION VOULD BE SUE:11TTED SHORTLY TO DO AWAY WITH THE NEED FOR IMMIGRANTS TO REGISTER AD RE-REGISTER SEVERAL TIMES FOR HONG KONG IDENTITY CA..DS.
......
"