ENG-1983 — Page 250

13

事入

旅務境

遊和

燒

Immigration and Tourism

THE main aim of immigration control in Hong Kong is to contain increases in population from immigration at acceptable levels. During 1983, about 27 000 legal immigrants from China settled in Hong Kong. In past years, the pressure of illegal immigration has been the greatest menace to limiting growth to a reasonable level. In September 1980, the rate of illegal immigration had reached 450 each day. Measures taken since then have greatly improved the situation. These include the abolition of the 'reached-base' policy (which allowed illegal immigrants from China who had successfully entered Hong Kong to remain), the legislation making the carrying of a legal form of identity compulsory for all residents over 15 years of age, the gradual introduction of a more forgery-resistant identity card, backed up by an efficient computer-based record system, and the continued efforts of the security forces at the border and in Hong Kong waters to detect illegal entry. Illegal immigration still takes place, but on a much reduced scale. During 1983, an average of 13 illegal immigrants a day were arrested while entering. A further eight illegal immigrants who evaded detection on entry were arrested each day during the year.

The illegal immigration of children, often under conditions of great danger and hardship, has continued. This poses special problems because children under 11 years are not required to hold identity cards and may remain undetected in Hong Kong for long periods. Legisla- tion to help stem this flow of very young illegal immigrants was introduced in December 1981 and, in spite of the difficulties, a number of the racketeers involved have been arrested and sentenced. Pressure is being maintained to stamp out this despicable and dangerous trade.

New arrangements agreed with the Chinese authorities to facilitate the admission of visitors from China, for limited periods, were introduced in December 1982. These arrangements have worked well, with the great majority of the visitors returning to China at the end of their visits.

The work of the Immigration Department falls into two main streams - controlling people moving into and out of Hong Kong, and providing travel documents and registration facilities for local residents. The work embraces such diverse fields as the issue of travel documents, visas and identity cards, the processing of applications for naturalisation, and the registration of births, deaths and marriages. Much effort also goes into the detection and prosecution of those who breach the immigration laws, and on the repatriation of those who are in Hong Kong illegally. Immigration policies are framed to limit permanent population growth, while immigration procedures for Hong Kong residents, tourists and businessmen are streamlined to the maximum extent possible.

Immigration Control

As the effects of the world-wide recession moderated, the number of passengers moving into and out of Hong Kong continued to increase, reaching record levels. Passenger