ENG-1987 — Page 363

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POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) contributed a total of $35 million towards the upkeep of refugees in these centres during 1987.

Refugees who arrived in Hong Kong before July 1982, were accommodated in the open centres. Work to amalgamate the two separate open centres, that is, the Jubilee Transit Centre and the Kai Tak Transit Centre, with improved facilities at the Kai Tak site was carried out and completed in March 1987. There were 2948 refugees living in the amalgamated centre at the end of the year. Few restrictions were imposed on those who lived in the open centres, and they all enjoyed free movement inside or outside the centres. The refugees were allowed to take up temporary employment to support themselves and their families. More than 900 of the refugees have been living in the open centres for over seven years.

Sparked off by rumours, there was an exodus to Hong Kong in the middle of the year of Vietnamese refugees who had previously been settled in China. Known as ex-China Vietnamese illegal immigrants (ECVIIS), they came in large numbers by boat. During July and August, a total of 7 306 ex-China cases arrived in Hong Kong. This influx placed immense strain on Hong Kong's limited resources and, to meet the emergency, additional holding facilities were set up at short notice to accommodate these unexpected arrivals. To resolve the problem, urgent discussions were held in August with the Chinese authorities, and as a result, arrangements were made to begin repatriating the ECVIIs to China, in groups from August 22. By the end of the year, there were 247 ex-China cases remaining in Hong Kong awaiting repatriation.

Personal Documentation

The phasing-out of re-entry permits previously required by most residents travelling to China and Macau significantly reduced demand for this document. Nevertheless, re-entry permits accounted for 66 per cent of the 800 000 travel documents issued.

Demand for passports increased by 23 per cent to 165 900. Included in this figure are 16 275 passports issued with the new status of British National (Overseas). Demand for the BN(O) passport would have been higher but for uncertainty caused by speculative and inaccurate reports that the BN(O) passport was not acceptable for travel to some countries in the region. Sweden, Spain and Brazil abolished the visa requirement for tourist and business visits.

Identity cards issued up to June 30 are being replaced with permanent or ordinary identity cards in a phased four-year programme which began on July 1. These cards have no expiry date and, with the agreement of the Chinese government, will remain valid beyond July 1, 1997 and until such time as they are replaced by the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

Marriages

The registration of marriages, births and deaths is the responsibility of the Immigration Department.

All marriages in Hong Kong are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and the Marriage Reform Ordinance. Under the Marriage Ordinance, at least 15 days notice of an intended marriage must be given to the Registrar of Marriages. The Registrar has discretionary powers to reduce the period of notice in special circumstances or to grant a special licence dispensing with notice altogether, but this is done only in exceptional circumstances.

Marriages may take place either at any of the 203 places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages, or at any of the 13 full-time marriage registries and three