TNAG-1821-FCO40-2584-Emigration-from-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 89

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applicants although such people make up only 10.4% of the

working population. Moreover this percentage, having

crept up from just under 20% in 1981 to just under 30% in

1985, had suddenly jumped in 1986 to over 40%. The 40%

level was maintained in the first quarter of 1988.

Looking just at 1987, of the overall stock of persons in

the professional, administrative and managerial class in

the population as a whole, about 3.5% obtained a visa to

The figure for 1986 was just over 1.5%.

emigrate.

Education Level

19.

A similar analysis has been done on the level

of education reached and the statistics are at

Annex D Annex D. For the purpose of this report, "brains" are

taken to be everybody who completed matriculation level

or above. As can be seen, as a proportion of the

population, the "brains" have increased from 5.9% to 7.8%

during those years. In 1981, such people obtained just

under 15% of the total number of visas issued. This

percentage moved up slowly to 22% by 1985, then jumped to

27% in 1986 and 32% in 1987. A similar level was

maintained in the first quarter of 1988. In 1987, 4.1%

of all degree holders in the population obtained visas to

The corresponding figure for 1986 was 2.5%.

emigrate.