CONFIDENTIAL
This
by bringing down the number of legal immigrants. impression was to a large extent borne out by the relatively low figures for immigration in 1975 and 1976.
Recent Developments
Annex D
10.
In view of remarks by the Chinese authorities that Hong Kong had made it too easy for visitors from China to stay here permanently, new administrative arrangements were introduced from 15 January 1979. Under these, all immigrants from China are landed for the period of validity of their Chinese documents, with the stay granted not exceeding three months. Applications for extension of stay are invariably approved, but the new arrivals are encouraged to return to China. There has been no evidence that efforts to persuade recent arrivals
to return to China have succeeded. The number of people returning within the period of validity of their CPG documents remains at the same level as before, i.e. between 1% and 2% of those arriving.
11.
The new arrangements outlined above have given rise to a demand for Hong Kong entry permits on an unprecedented scale. Between 15 January and 9 March 1979, a total of 99,000 application forms for entry permits were issued. 11,000 applications have been received so far. This compares with a total of 285 applications in the whole year of 1978. An analysis of the applications received shows that 80% would be approved under the existing policy governing immigration from China. Details of the existing, 1968, policy are at Annex D. In the circumstances, Director of Immigration has decided to stop issuing any further application forms for the time being.
12.
The Chinese authorities have recently proposed new procedures to deal with the problem of "visitors" to
They have said they are considering issuing
Hong Kong.
CONFIDENTIAL/contd........
3.
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