Illegal immigrants from China
13.
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated places on earth. 5.75 million people now live in its 1,000 square kilometres, three quarters of which is unproductive hillside or barren islands. Average population density is 5,374 persons per square kilometre, compared to 230 in the UK and 22 in the US. In Mongkok District the population density is about 140,000 per square kilometre.
14. Throughout Hong Kong.'s history, it has been the focus of emigration from China. In the late 1970s,. just as the influx of Vietnamese boat people was at its peak, the number of immigrants into Hong Kong from China also increased dramatically. In 1979 and the first 10 months of 1980, over 330,000 people entered Hong Kong illegally from China, of whom 164,000 successfully "reached base" ie reached the main urban area and were allowed to register for identity cards. On 23 October 1980, the Government abolished the "reach base" policy. Since then, all illegal immigrants have been returned to China, regardless of how long they have been in Hong Kong or what family connections they have in the territory.
Public attitudes
15.
There continues to be widespread concern in Hong Kong about the continuing problem of boat people arriving from Vietnam. Many have urged the Hong Kong Government to abandon the policy of first asylum. Feelings tend to be particularly strong in those communities which have most direct contact with Vietnamese boat people. Any establishment of new camps is unpopular, as is the Government's present policy of liberalising conditions in the camps in which those categorised as refugees live. Many people draw attention to the dichotomy between allowing boat people from Vietnam to land in Hong Kong, even though they do not wish to stay in the territory, and returning illegal immigrants immediately to China, at an average rate of 54 a day in 1988. There have also been widespread calls for the United Kingdom to provide greater assistance in resolving the problem, both in terms of resettlement and in giving a lead in the search for a durable international
solution.
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