ENG-1973 — Page 186

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Immigration and Tourism

IMMIGRANTS and tourists continued to flow into Hong Kong during 1973. For the second year in succession more than one million visitors were attracted to the territory, and more than 70,000 legal immigrants, mostly from China, arrived in Hong Kong.

Immigration

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The work of the Immigration Department falls into four divisions—the control of people moving in and out of Hong Kong, the issue of travel documents to local residents, the issue of entry certificates and visas for the United Kingdom and Com- monwealth countries not represented in Hong Kong, and naturalisation and registra- tion under the British Nationality Acts.

During 1973, 9,652,750 passengers passed through immigration control, an increase of 21 per cent over 1972. Of this figure 3,362,274 travelled by air (up 24 per cent), 4,458,709 by sea, mainly Macau traffic (up 16 per cent), and 1,831,767 by land (up 26 per cent). A new record was established in August 1973 when the monthly total of travellers passing through immigration control exceeded 1,000,000.-

The number of passengers refused landings in 1973 was 5,457, but 1,446 of these were allowed to transit Hong Kong under supervision. Some concern was felt about the increasingly large number of persons leaving China with the permission of the Chinese authorities and entering Hong Kong. These totalled 55,659, compared to 20,355 in 1972, and 2,530 in 1971. The fact that most of these immigrants were likely to stay prompted serious misgivings about the effect on the government's long-term plans for housing, education and social services. However, towards the end of the year the number entering from China had fallen markedly.

Local residents continued to travel abroad in large numbers and demands for travel documents reached record levels, as full advantage was taken of the many cheap fares on offer. This year 53,835 British (Hong Kong) passports were issued, an increase of 58 per cent over 1972. In addition 90,772 Certificates of Identity (59,018 in 1972) and 693,542 Re-entry Permits (705,059 in 1972) were issued. Four new branch offices were opened, in Kwun Tong, Kennedy Town, Shau Kei Wan, and Yuen Long.

In July, the specialised work on visas and entry certificates for the United King- dom and those Commonwealth countries not represented in Hong Kong was central- ised in a new overseas visa section. Malaysia took over its own visa work in February, and Nigeria in July. The United Kingdom Immigration Act 1971 came into force in January 1973, making it more difficult for local residents to take employment in Britain.