TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 14

For information

(18.10.88)

INTRODUCTION

CONFIDENTIAL

MED 341/5

NOTE FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

EMIGRATION

REVISED

XCCI (88)76 22 Copy No..

The purpose of this memorandum is up-to-date with the present

present state of knowledge subjects of emigration and brain drain.

Mr Hom

in fear Wiy

Ass Str

+PA

to

59

THE Rent. Some useful print of informatic, but bring Members no surghies about the twin

BACKGROUND

2

Specific statistics about emigration from Hong Kong are difficult to come by. Like all free societies, Hong Kong is more concerned with controlling immigration than with gathering information about persons leaving, For this reason, in assessing the extent of emigration, we must make use of statistics gleaned from various sources which shed some light on the subject. The three main sources of information are

(a) applications for Certificates of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) processed by the Royal Hong Kong Police Force;

(b)

(c)

statistics on visas issued by the main destination countries,

consulates; and

as provided by the

balance of migration

migration statistics provided by the Immigration Department.

Each of these

sources has its limitations particularly when considered on

But taken together, they allow reasonable assessment to be made of the overall position.

its own.

Certificates of No Criminal Conviction (CNCCs)

3

a

One of the most widely quoted statistics, because it is freely available and directly under Hong Kong Government control, concerns applications made. to the Police for CNCCs, which the main immigrating countries require adult applicants to produce at some stage in the visa application process. However, statistics on the number of CNCC applications are not synonymous with emigration statistics and must be treated with caution for the following reasons

CONFIDENTIAL