TNAG-2019-FCO40-2881-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Australia-1990 — Page 2

IF Lindsay Esq

SPD

FCO

Dea Jan,

MOY

Australia / HK file

10

BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

CANBERRA

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LAST PAPER

30 November 1990

HKB 020/10

100X1990

Mr Jami's Mr Itaque Ms Hay cock

RM 1/12

AUSTRALIA/HONG KONG

1. In his minute of 5 November to Richard Thomas, APS/Lord Caithness records that Senator Evans claimed to Lord Caithness during his recent visit that many of those emigrating from Hong Kong to Australia were returning once they had obtained residence permits. He promised to provide evidence to back. these claims.

2. We have pursued this with DFAT who have produced the attached figures. You will see that these show an increase in the number of Australian residents returning to Hong Kong on a longterm basis. However the figures do not support the suggestion that a large proportion of Australia's annual intake of Hong Kongers (about 17,000) are in effect still The Astronauts "living in Hong Kong. The Australians do not have figures for

those who continue to appear on Australian statistics as residents but who in fact spend most of their time in Hong Kong. The only evidence to support the theory that this is happening on a large scale is anecdotal.

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Hong Kong (DPA)

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