TNAG-2871-FCO40-4125-Hong-Kong-immigration-policy-and-statistics-1993 — Page 130

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO ROUTINE FCO

TELNO 918

OF 05042OZ JUNE 93

CONFIDENTIAL

HICC 34111 RECEIVED!!RECISTRY

7 Ju. 1993

DESK OF

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

INFO ROUTINE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

21

133731

MDLIAN 7376

ONE-WAY PERMIT SYSTEM.

SUMMARY.

1.

WE HAVE PROPOSED TO THE CHINESE THAT THE NUMBER OF ONE-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS FOR PERMANENT IMMIGRATION FROM THE MAINLAND TO HONG KONG BE INCREASED FROM 75 TO 100 A DAY IN ORDER TO SPREAD THE INFLUX BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 OF THOSE PERSONS OF CHINESE NATIONALITY BORN OUTSIDE HONG KONG TO HONG KONG PERMANENT RESIDENTS WHO ARE CHINESE CITIZENS. UNDER ARTICLE 24 OF THE BASIC LAW THESE PERSONS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE SAR FROM 1

JULY 1997.

2.

WE HAVE SAID THAT IF THIS IS AGREED AND THE NEW SCHEME OPERATES SMOOTHLY WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO REVIEW THE NEED FOR A FURTHER INCREASE AT A LATER STAGE.

DETAIL.

3.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE CHINESE AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS AGREED IN 1982 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 IN 1982 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.

4. 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 SAR FROM 1 JULY 1997. 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

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CONFIDENTIAL