SPEAKING NOTE FOR USE AT AD HOC VISA WORKING GROUP MEETING
IN BRUSSELS, 21/22 SEPTEMBER, 1993
- Member States were invited at the May meeting to supply
information relevant to the concerns of some member countries
that Chinese migration to Europe was increasing. I would like to make a statement addressing suggestions that Hong
Kong is used as a staging post for Europe by illegal immigrants.
Would like to reassure Member States that Hong Kong has
tough and efficient immigration controls which act as a deterrent to would-be illegal immigrants. Immigrants from
China who enter Hong Kong illegally are quickly identified and repatriated. The effectiveness of these measures is
recognised widely in the region.
-
Wrong to confuse movement of illegitimate travellers with
that of mainland Chinese travelling legitimately to other countries and transiting Hong Kong. Last year there
were 100,000 legitimate travellers. This number likely to
increase as China's economy opens up further and commercial
exchanges with Europe continue to develop.
- Invite Member States to note that Hong Kong has recently
reinforced controls on persons in direct transit. Such
people are now required to remain airside to ensure that the
Territory is not used as a transit point for illegal immigrants.
Seems likely that illegal immigrants from China bound for
Europe prefer to travel overland through Russia, where there is a lack of the sort of controls applied by Hong Kong.
Request Member States to note that the only travellers from
Hong Kong eligible to enter (some) European countries without
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