TNAG-1173-FCO40-1465-Future-of-Hong-Kong-special-study-by-FCO-for-the-Prime-Minis-1982 — Page 208

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Immigration and Visa Control

6. The Hong Kong Government are responsible for immigration

control into the territory. The Hong Kong Immigration

Department also act on behalf of the Home Office in issuing

passports, visas or entry certificates for entry to the UK.

7. Immigration from the PRC is subject to special under-

standings with the PRC. The latter do not accept the right

of the Hong Kong Government to limit immigration from the PRC

for persons to whom its Government have given permission to

travel. But they recognise the need for control and themselves

limit the numbers leaving to an average of about 150 a day.

About 25% of these are theoretically visitors (though they

seldom return to China); the remainder have one-way permits

for permanent settlement in Hong Kong. In practice the

Hong Kong Government admits these 'legal immigrants' although

they regard the numbers permitted to travel as too high and

are trying to persuade the PRC to reduce them.

>

8. The Chinese co-operate in measures to prevent the

unauthorised emigration of people to Hong Kong and accept

back all 'illegal immigrants' caught or discovered in Hong Kong.

Visas for Taiwan Residents

9.

As a matter of practical convenience (there is no British

representation in Taiwan) the Hong Kong Immigration

Department issue visas for the UK to Taiwan residents on

behalf of the Home Office.

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