TNAG-1088-FCO40-1338-Illegal-immigration-from-China-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 175

AK. Q&A's healco

Oril 21 at: HKIC ou13

This Copy for:

Information only / Action on

Para(s)

HKK 34111

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51

16 FEB1931

DESK OFFICER

PA

Reply by the Secretary for Security to

Question No. 3

REGISTRY Action Taken

a question

by the Hon. F. K. HU, JP in the Legislative Council on Wednesday 21st January, 1981

Question:

Reply:

Sir,

Will Government state:

(a)

(b)

the number of Chinese passport holders who have entered Hong Kong in Transit during the last 12 months and say what percentage have so far departed

and

i) before and

ii) since 23rd October, 1980;

policy governing the grant of extensions of stay to such transients?

(a)

17, 390 holders of People's Republic of China Passports

entered Hong Kong in transit to third countries in 1980. The Immigration Department records do not readily show the number who have departed

at any particular date, but of the arrivals in 1980 12, 403 entered from 1st

January to 22nd October 1980 and of these about 8,000 or 70% have since

departed; 4, 987 entered from 23rd October to 31 December 1980 and about

4,500 or 40% have departed.

(b) Prior to October 1980 Chinese passport holders were

usually landed initially for 3 months and were given further three-month

extensions on application. However, it then came to notice that some transitees had overstayed after being given a number of extensions of stay and had no intention of continuing their journey to their country of

destination. Indeed, some had posed as illegal immigrants who had

"reached base" and obtained Hong Kong identity cards. A change in the practice of granting extensions therefore became necessary and urgent.

IXA