XN000022-1996-07-03 — Page 52

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Overstaying of one-way permit holders

Following is a question by the Hon Choy Kan-pui and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Reply:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Mr President,

(a)

of the number of people coming to Hong Kong from China on two-way exit permits, as well as number of such people who have overstayed, in each of the past three years;

of the respective ratios of minors, adult males and females among those who have overstayed;

whether it has detected any two-way exit permit holders taking up employment while staying in the territory during the past three years; if so, of the types of work they are mainly engaged in; and

whether, in view of the reports that many two-way exit permit holders have overstayed and gone into hiding to wait for amnesty in 1997, the Government will discuss the problem with the Chinese side; and whether the Government will take other measures to prevent holders of two-way exit permits from overstaying in the territory?

The number of people coming to Hong Kong from China on Two-way Permits (TWP) and the number of overstayers are:

No of TWP

Year

Holders

No of TWP Overstayers

No of overstayers who

returned to

China voluntarily

1993

209,400

17,102

10,282

1994

245,927

26,614

11,450

1995

260,313

38,250

13,246

1996

108,022

11,760

5,178

(Jan - May)