TNAG-0289-FCO40-325-Departmental-briefs-on-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 170

CONFIDENTIAL

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punimation

IMMIGRATION CONTROL AND REFUGEES

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18. Kore than a million Ammigrants and refugees have entered

Because other countries

Hong Kong from China since 1950.

have refused to accept Clinere immigrants and because tho (

refugees now constitute a substantial proportion of the popula

tion of the Colony, the Hong Kong Government has been obliged

I

Strict

to follow a policy of integrating them into the community.

19. Since 1950 the Hong Kong Government has found it necessa

to restrict entry from the mainlond and the quota for legal

immigration from the Kwangtung Province is fifty a day,

measures are taken against illegal immigration from China but

because of the Colony's geographical situation it is impornibic

to maintain complete control. The Chinese border authoritiO3

maintain a tight control on their side of the frontier and

there have been several incursions in recent months by small

parties of Chinese civilians from the mainland into British

territory in search of illegal emigrants from China. No

attempt is maão by the Hong Kong authorities to seek out anl

retuin those who succeed in entering the Colony undetected.

But illegal immigrants who are intercepted are normally

returned to China in accordance with international practice

when enquiries have failed, to reveal any good reason why they

should not be so returned,

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