ENG-1963 — Page 291

IMMIGRATION

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A Statistical section equipped with punch card machines is to be set up and will entail a new type of disembarkation and embarkation card for passengers to complete. These cards will be used as the basic records in the department. The full value of the system will not be felt for some time but the gradual compilation of data and the re-collating of present records will eventually provide more detailed and up-to-date statistics of visitors to the Colony.

Children from China and Macau were permitted during the Chinese New Year and summer holidays to visit their parents, grand-parents, and in the case of orphans, elder brothers and sisters. A special permit system was introduced for the summer holidays and permits were issued at a reduced rate of $1. Most of the applications for children to enter from China were made by parents who entered the Colony illegally in 1962.

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The total recorded movement during the year was 2,594,964 comprising 1,298,243 arrivals and 1,296,721 departures. This com- pares with a total of 2,708,303 in 1962. The main lines of move- ment are between Hong Kong and China, and Hong Kong and Macau.

Comparative figures for the past five years of movement in and out of the Colony, and the issue of passports, visas, certificates of identity and re-entry permits are:

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

Movement in and out of the Colony

Number of passports issued

4,350

2,224,503 2,479,019 2,449,953

7.330

2,708,303 2,594,964

5,662

7,582

6,473

Number of visas issued

37,627

38,169

41,940

42,331

39,673

Number of certificates of identity issued

14,223

16,628

15,765

17,462

23,596

Number of re-entry permits issued

337,202

371,079

348,828

356,834

374,622