TNAG-0936-FCO40-1155-Visit-of-Norman-Fowler--Minister-of-Transport--to-Hong-Kong--1980 — Page 85

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densely populated places in the world. Immigration thus constitutes a constant problem.

10. The vast bulk of immigrants come from China. Between 1971 and 1973 the total number of immigrants from China into Hong Kong increased so fast -from about 13,500 to some 74,000 per year-that in November 1974. Hong Hong was obliged to introduce a policy of retuming to China illegal inmigrants apprehended while entering the Colony, except where there were strong humanitarian reasons not to do so. This policy succeeded until 1978 in greatly reducing the number of people trying to cross illegally into Hong Kong, In 1978 however a total of 8,123 illegal immigrants were repatriated to China and it is estimated that some 30,000 evaded detection. During 1979 no less than 89,562 were repatriated with an estimated 117,000 evading detection; an average of 722 illegal immigrants a day were being caught at the end of May and beginning of June. This situation led to a decision by the British Government in June 1979 to reinforce the seriously overstretched gerrison with one and a half bat- talions, helicopters and naval craft. Together with measures adopted by the Chinese Provincial authorities under direction from Peking, this led to a dramatic change,with numbers of illegal immigrants dropping to a daily average of 71 for the last 7 days of June.A total of 617 illegal immigrants from China were arrested in Hong Kong during July, the lowest. monthly figure since August 1978. During the remaining months of 1979 the numbers gradually rose again to a peak of 15,202 in December. Since 1 January 1920 there have been indications of increased activity by the Chinese authorities, but it is too early to judge whether the initial drop in numbers recorded so far this year will be sustained.

11.Legal immigration also poses a problem. The Hong Kong authorities have not imposed any controls on people arriving from China since 1967: they accept all those to whom the Chinese issue exit permits. Following the sharp rise in the numbers of immigrants in the early seventies an informal understanding was reached with the Chinese which led to the number of exit permits issued being limited to about 50 a day.There is no problem for Hong Kong in absorbing new arrivals at this rate. However at the end of 1977 the rate of arrivals began to rise sharply and by the end of 1978 immigrants from China were crossing at a rate of over 300 a day. Repeated representations have been made to the Chinese authorities to persuade them to limit the flow. We believe they understand the problem and are making efforts to control the numbers. But although there has been a reduction to a current level of about 160 a day, these numbers continue to be well above the acceptable level, and this remains a cause for

concern.