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DSR 11 (Revised)
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Reference AR 3 ACA
(Appendix A to
AR3ABW
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APPENDIX A: HONG KONG'S CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
:
1.
Policy on repatriation of illegal Chinese immigrants
from Hong Kong has been complicated and variable. Up to
the inception of the current policy in 1980, illegal
immigrants were returned to China if apprehended at the
point of entry into Hong Kong but allowed to remain if
they managed to reach urban areas. Until 1974, in
practice, if an illegal immigrant refused to return to
China when presented at the border, he was released back
into Hong Kong. This practice was assisted by Chinese
refusal (except for a few cases in 1967-68) to accept
anyone who was not prepared to cross the border
voluntarily.
An exception to this occurred between 28
April and 26 May 1962 when 60,000 to 70,000 illegal
immigrants were forcibly returned to China after a sudden
influx. This action the forcible return of individuals
S
to a communist country suffering what was perceived as
widespread famine, received considerable world-wide
attention. The Chinese authorities accepted these
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