TNAG-0802-FCO40-1006-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 162

CONFIDENTIAL

ANNEX II

i

Hong Kong Travel Documents

Immigration Department have prepared two

but not yet passed to

further tables (enclosed

NC NA: they already have enough to chew over) showing movement of Hong Kong re-entry permit holders - 1965 to July 1978 and of Declaration of Identity holders with Hong Kong re-entry visas 1974-July 1978. These fill out some of the details in the 1971-78 table.

2.

The practice of issuing Visas on Declarations of Identity to immigrants from China started in 1972. Originally they were used for travel overseas and it was only in 1974 that their use for travel to China became sufficiently established for records to be kept at Lowu. If used for travel to China they are generally valid for 3 or 6 months. They are available, inter alia, to immigrants from China who are landed on an initial limitation of stay (Overseas Chinese and non-Kwangtung residents) generally renewable until permanent resident status is acquired after 7 years. Some of these probably find difficulty in adjusting to life here, or, if they visit China, in returning while the visa is still valid. At any rate, there has been a steady net outflow at Lowu over the past 5 years. Even though this is small in absolute (3,794) and percentage terms (3.9% of total departures), it is proportionately far higher than the outflow of re-entry permit holders. In fact, over the past 5 years 40,053 more re-entry permit holders arrived than left.

3.

Re-entry Permits are used by permanent residents of Hong Kong who are of Chinese race and who neither hold nor have an entitlement to a national passport other than a British passport. These include those new arrivals from China who are classified on entry as Kwangtung residents. Permits are valid, unlike visas, only for travel to and from China and Macau. Single and multiple permits are issued, valid for 6 months and 5 years respectively, In 1974 July 1978 there were 8,646,023 arrivals and departures at Lowu by travellers on Hong Kong and Chinese documents (excluding Chinese passport holders with visas for Hong Kong) of whom 96.2% were re-entry permit holders. statistics for re-entry permit holders are, however, based on a simple head count: all other travellers have to complete departure and arrival cards. This no doubt makes for a slightly greater margin of error but Immigration Department do not think it is likely to be significant. The 1965 - 1978 table shows clearly how

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The

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CONFIDENTIAL