TNAG-2871-FCO40-4125-Hong-Kong-immigration-policy-and-statistics-1993 — Page 117

PAO(C) 1/4731/49

PAO(C) 3/2071/90

SPEAKING NOTE

(To hand over to NCNA on 5.6.93)

One-Way Permits

1.

In 1982 the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments agreed that 75 people a day would be allowed to enter Hong Kong from the mainland for settlement. Both sides accepted that it was necessary to control the rate of population increase at a level with which Hong Kong's social infrastructure could cope. The two sides agreed that the priority within the quota of 75 immigrants a day would be to let immediate relatives of Hong Kong residents into Hong Kong. At present, some 90 per cent of all entrants under the quota are joining spouses or

parents.

2.

Article 24 (2) (3) of the Basic Law provides that persons of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong to Hong Kong permanent residents who are Chinese citizens will have the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has been agreed in the JLG that this means that only one parent need be a permanent resident at the time of the person's birth. We estimate that, on this interpretation, there will be about 75,000 such children by 1997 and some 3,000-4,000 a year thereafter. We believe that spreading the influx between now and July 1997 would prevent a sudden and unmanageable rush, which would exacerbate the difficulties of sifting those who would then have the right to remain from others coming in illegally. Also, since these children will anyway have the right of abode in Hong Kong in 1997, the earlier they are integrated, the better it will be both for the community and for them.