}
interests,
The principle of free movement for Chinese naționals in and
..
out of Hong Kong could be maintained in Chinese rhetoric, whilst the
practical restrictions could be blamed on an obstructive administration
in Hong Kong.
30 J
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fa
:
The
110 China's control of emigration to Hong Kong, 1967-1976.
withdrawal of Hong Kong immigration officers from the border area in
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1967 was decided by the Hong Kong Government as a precaution against
assaults on border officials, or their abduction into China, during the
period of "confrontation". Hong Kong's quota and entry permit system of
immigration control therefore lapsed, and responsibility for control of
Chinese emigration to Hong Kong effectively passed to the Chinese
authorities.
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F
1.
141 The controls exercised by the Chinese authorities successfully hel
the level of emigration to Hong Kong at a reasonable level - a rate of
about 50 a day until 1973 when the numbers escalated to a level
unacceptable to the Hong Kong Government. Because of the CPG's
objection to the Hong Kong Government's re-imposing controls, an under-
standing was reached that the Chinese authorities would themselves take
steps to reduce the numbers involved. The numbers subsequently declined
to steady at just over 50 per day in 1976, and illustrated the degree of
understanding on the part of the Chinese authorities for the need to
regulate the flow of travellers across the border.
D)
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150
+
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"
112
It is believed that Chinese policy on the issue of exit permits
19
1.
was carefully reviewed sometime in 1971 and that this review was on the
instruction of Premier Zhou Enlai. The review resulted in the prumulga-
1
..
tion by the State Council in March 1972 of a number of criteria for
issuing exit permits. Although the State Council's criteria have not
appeared in published form, the categories of Chinese qualifying for
exit permits are understood to include aged, or infirm dependents of
/relatives 89280 Dd 532113 200M 2/79 SIS
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