Unfortunately, the new restrictions on limitation of stay prompted an immediate and unmanageable demand for entry visas for permanent residence. Between 15 January 1979 and 9 March 1979 98,000 application forms were issued. Of the 20,000 applicants who had returned completed forms by 9 March 1979 98% qualified for admission under existing policy. It thus became readily apparent that persons in China qualified for entry under existing policy totalled many tens of thousands and that those numbers would increase as new immigrants them- han selves qualified as hosts to bring in their relatives.
G.S. 166
*13
Following the emergence of this overwhelming increase in applications which, if approved, would have contributed seriously to the already severe population problems, the Immigra- tion Department with retrospective effect from 15 January 1979 suspended the consideration of applications from China. This suspension, which is still in force, was reported to Members on 20 May 1980.
14
This means that now all legal immigration from China comprises the substantial figure of approximately 55,000 per year stemming from the average daily inflow of 150 currently imposed by the PRC. This level of legal arrivals continues notwithstanding representations which have been made to the Chinese authorities in Peking and in Hong Kong.
15
In view of the many tens of thousands who would otherwise qualify to come to Hong Kong from China, and given that uncontrolled (by Hong Kong) legal immigration from China amounts to some 55,000 per year, there appears to be no alternative to continuance of the suspension of general immigration criteria in respect of applicants from China, and the material in Annexes A - G should be considered against this background.
Legal Immigration from China via Macau
16
The Chinese authorities relaxed travel restrictions to Macau in late 1978, since when an estimated 150,000 immigrants have entered Macau legally from China. Early in 1979 new arrivals in Macau began to apply to join relatives in Hong Kong. Most applicants appeared to be qualified under existing policy for entry to Hong Kong.
17
As these new arrivals in Macau from China were in effect hoping to use Macau as a stepping stone for immigration to Hong Kong, and in order to prevent an unacceptable increase in population in Hong Kong, the Immigration Department in April 1979 suspended the consideration of applications from persons from China in Macau in those cases where the person concerned was not settled in Macau by 14 January 1979. This suspension, which is still in force, was reported to Members on 13 May 1980.
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