TNAG-2641-FCO40-3834-Emigration-of-skilled-labour-from-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 24

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INFO ROUTINE BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG INFO ROUTINE PEKING, OTTAWA, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA

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113603

MDLOAN 8429

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~ 2012.

HONG KONG EMIGRATION

1.

A

A REPORT IN THE TORONTO STAR OF 31 JANUARY SAID THAT WHILE 26, 647 HONG KONG RESIDENTS WERE ISSUED IMMIGRANT VISAS IN 1991 (18 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1990) THIS FIGURE APPARENTLY REPRESENTED APPLICATIONS MADE UP TO TWO YEARS PREVIOUSLY. THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN 1991 FELL BY 49 PER CENT TO 9, 428. MEMBER OF THE CANADIAN COMMISSION IN HONG KONG, IS QUOTED AS LINKING THE FALL IN APPLICATIONS TO THE RECESSION IN CANADA.

2. ONE SWALLOW DOES NOT MAKE A SUMMER, BUT WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE (IF ANY) OF THESE FIGURES. HAVE THERE BEEN SIMILAR REDUCTIONS IN APPLICATIONS TO EMIGRATE TO THE USA AND AUSTRALIA?

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SIR J COLES

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