BACKGROUND NOTE
IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG
1. Hong Kong is a small territory of about 400 square miles and very limited resources. Since the last war, its population has increased more than seven-fold, from 600,000 to over 42 million, mainly through immigration from China. It is now one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
2.
In the early 1970's, immigrants were arriving in Hong Kong at such a rate that the social services were coming under
strain. In November 1974 therefore the Hong Kong Government decided reluctantly to re-introduce the policy, suspended in 1967, of repatriating illegal immigrants from China who were caught while trying to enter Hong Kong. The policy only applies to those caught at the border. Anybody who evades detection and succeeds in reaching the urban areas is allowed
to remain. Each case is also considered on its merits, and where there are strong humanitarian reasons against returning a particular individual to China, the repatriation policy is
not enforced.
3.
The decision has had a marked effect on the numbers
entering Hong Kong. From an estimated total of about 30,000 in 1973, the number of illegal immigrants has dropped
to an annual level of around 6,000 in the past four years. Even though it is believed that those who are caught represent only 20% of those who make the attempt, this still amounts to a very substantial reduction in the influx.
4. The treatment of repatriated illegal immigrants is regarded by the Chinese as an internal matter, and we have
not been able therefore to obtain any firm assurances from
them. But there is strong evidence from a number of sources
that the people concerned are not harshly treated. The most important source of such information is the immigrants themselves, some of whom are caught making their second or
/third
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