TNAG-0663-FCO40-812-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 155

A

Chinese Feoples' Government Present Policy In The Control And Issue Of Exit Permits To Chinese

Immigrants To Hong Kong

Appundir

&

1.

History and its Constitution

The late Prime Minister of China, CHOU En-lai was the initial person contributing tremendous effort towards the formation of the present CPG Folicy in the control of the Exit of Chinese Immigrants to Hong Kong; and likewise to countries abroad. Prime Minister Chou was endowed with the opinion that every Chinese resident in China has the right and privilege of paying visits whenever agreeable to relatives outside China; and vice versa, every single Chinese in countries abroad should be bestowed with the same right and privilege in enjoying free access to and from China at any time of the year. Viewed with this theory, Prime Minister Chou having jointly made consultation for advice from the State Department (P), the Department of United Front ( y t

and another

).

official organisation --the Peoples' Committee (1), introduced modification to the system in the issue of Exit Permits to Chinese Immigrants, and set down guide-lines governing the present policy which was put into operation in the month of March in the year 1972 and has beer enforced continuously since that very month. CPG Officials responsible for the execution of this policy are still following the principles laid down by the late Frime Minister.

2.

Categories of Chinese People Jualified as Immigrants under the Present Folicy

The three policy-making government bodies following instructions and guide-lines from Frime Minister Chou, set down the rules and procedures in the execution of the present policy. Chinese people falling within the following six major categories are qualified to be immigrants and will be entitled for the issue of either an Exit Fermit or a Passport to leave their mother land for their respective destinations abroad,

The six categories have been including people who are :-

(i) Aged persons with no living relative or anyone to look after

them; and handicapped or crippled persons who can no longer work;

(ii) Those wishing to join their husbands/wives, parents or

relatives;

(iii) Overseas Chinese who were pursecuted and forced to leave

their countries of domicile at the times when anti- Chinese campaigns were at their peaks in South-East Asia. Indonesia and Burma were the two major countries frequently exercised such campaigns;

(iv) Persons required to travel to Hong Kong or Overseas to

collect legacies or accept wills;

(v) Persons required to leave China to take up business in CPG

Nationalised organisations outside China, or other left-wing trading companies;

(vi) Only member left to join the rest of the family living

outside China.

The majority of those already arrived at Hong Kong are persons falling within the categories at (i), (ii) and (iii) and a small percentage at (v) and (vi). It is rather seldom to have immigrants from category (iv).

Cont'd....