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5.10 The vast majority of immigrants come from China. Between 1971
and 1973 their numbers increased so fast from about 13,500 to some
74,000 a year
that in November 1974 Hong Kong was obliged to introduce a policy of returning to China illegal immigrants
apprehended while entering the Territory, except where there were
strong humanitarian reasons not to do this. 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. In 1979, a total of 89,652 were
repatriated, with an estimated 117,000 evading detection. This situation led the British Government in June to agree to reinforce the garrison with one and a half battalions, helicopters and naval craft. Together with measures adopted by the Chinese provincial authorities, under directions from Peking, this led initially to a dramatic drop in the numbers of illegal immigrants. However, the numbers gradually rose again, from about 135 a day in January 1980
to over 400 by October. On 23 October 1980, new legislation was enacted ending the policy by which immigrants who reached urban
areas of Hong Kong were allowed to stay and register for identity cards. All illegal immigrants may now be repatriated and, to make this work, it is now compulsory to carry an identity card in Hong Kong and illegal to employ anyone without proof of identity.
5.11 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 per day. There would be 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 per day. The current level is about 150 per day, but this continues to
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