TNAG-2949-FCO40-4226-Hong-Kong-visa-policy-with-other-countries-1993 — Page 16

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA (PRC) VIA HONG KONG

Note by United Kingdom Delegation

The

United Kingdom recalls that the problem of increased illegal immigration by PRC nationals was raised at the meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on Immigration on 24 May 1993. It was suggested then that Hong Kong featured in the route taken by those seeking to gain entry into the Community, and that information about the nature and scale of the problem might be

exchanged in CIREFI. The United Kingdom delegation undertook

to see what further information might be obtained.

2.

In practice, and because a number of Member States have experienced a related increase in Chinese asylum seekers, much of the subsequent work on this subject has been carried out by

CIREA. The result of this work is contained in WGI 1548 Rev

1, entitled "Asylum seekers of Chinese origin."

3. Nonetheless, the United Kingdom delegation thought it might be helpful to inform colleagues in CIREFI of the outcome of their inquiries into the suggestion that Hong Kong is being used as a 'stepping stone' into Europe. The United Kingdom wishes to reassure Member States that Hong Kong maintains tough

and efficient immigration controls which act as a firm

deterrent to would-be illegal immigrants. The Hong Kong

from

authorities have themselves confirmed that immigrants

China who enter Hong Kong illegally are quickly identified and repatriated. We believe that the effectiveness of Hong Kong's

measures for dealing with illegal immigration is recognised

widely in the region.

10776/93

WF/lb

EN

2