TNAG-0802-FCO40-1006-Immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 81

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BACKROUND NOTE

Immigration into Hong Kong

1. As a matter of policy, the Hong Kong Government at present allow into Hong Kong anybody from China to whom the Chinese

Government have given an exit permit. However, when in the early seventies the numbers began to rise sharply, (in 1973 over 56,000 legal immigrants arrived from China) it was feared that the numbers would become greater than the social services in Hong Kong could cope with. Talks were therefore held with

the Chinese authorities which led to an informal understanding whereby exit permits were to be limited to about 50 per day.

2. This arrangement worked satisfactorily until towards the end of 1977, when the numbers of legal immigrants again began

to rise steadily. By September this year the daily average was 222 and in October it was up to 257. A number of approaches

have been made to the Chinese authorities about this problem in London, Peking and Hong Kong: we believe that they understand the dangers in the present situation, and are genuinely concerned to try and help. But they are faced with practical problems in reducing the numbers which are likely to take some time to over-

come.

3.

Illegal immigrants also continue to enter in increasing numbers. 987 were arrested in September and 1381 in October, the highest figures since the policy of repatriation was reintroduced in 1974. But it is believed that these figures represent only about 20% of those who attempt to enter. Illegal immigrants who manage to evade the border patrols and reach the urban areas are allowed to remain.

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