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6
In January 1979 similar considerations, in this case in response to a potentially overwhelming increase in applications for legal immigration, led to the suspension by the Immigration Department of the generally applicable criteria for immigration in the cases of applicants both from China direct and from China via Macau. The reasons for this sus- pension, which was reported to Members in May 1980, are given below:
Legal Immigration from China
7
Prior to 1979, it was the practice to exempt immigrants from Guangdong Province, subject to a limit of 50 per day imposed in 1955, from the immigration policies which applied generally. Until the 1960's the limit of 50 per day was never under pressure due to the PRC policy of severely restricting overseas travel or settlement.
8
Deteriorating conditions at Lo Wu during the disturbances of 1967 made it difficult either to enforce any numerical limit or to refuse entry to persons from the remainder of China who did not meet the normal entry criteria. In practical terms this meant that immigration control had passed from Hong Kong to China.
9
Subsequently, there was an unacceptable increase
in the numbers of uncontrolled legal immigrants (i.e. those without Hong Kong visas) in 1973 but, following the decision in November 1974 to repatriate illegal immigrants intercepted on the border, the numbers fell again until 1978 when they increased to an average of 185 per day. By this time, the number of controlled legal immigrants (i.e. those with Hong Kong visas) had dropped to a negligible 37 for the whole year.
10
In January 1979 Members advised, and the Governor ordered, the abolition of the unenforceable distinction between residents of Guangdong and residents of elsewhere in China, and the introduction of limitations on the initial period of stay of all legal new arrivals from China. The provisions relating to limitation of stay were intended to emphasise that all new arrivals were accepted as visitors rather than on a permanent basis.
11
Although it was not practicable at that stage to prevent, without the cooperation of the Chinese authorities, "visitors" from China acquiring permanent residence, it was hoped that the new arrangements might pave the way for discussions with the Chinese with a view to a reduction in uncontrolled legal immigration linked with the implementation of a controlled visitor scheme.
CONFIDENTIAL #B
機密
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