ENG-1992 — Page 442

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

residents. Thus, some 87 per cent of all such arrivals entered for the purpose of family reunification.

Illegal Immigration

During the year, the number of illegal immigrants arrested increased. On average, there were 97 arrested each day, compared with 70 in 1991 and 76 in 1990. Most illegals came to Hong Kong looking for jobs, attracted by higher wages. Many were drawn by rumours of opportunities on the new airport project. Frequent checks were conducted on construction sites, factories and other places of employment. Illegal immigrants found at places of work were prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment before being repatriated. Their employers were also prosecuted. Most were fined but, in serious cases, prison sentences were imposed.

Emigration

Emigration has been a feature of life in Hong Kong for over a hundred years. The number of persons leaving Hong Kong increased from an average of 20 000 a year in the early 1980s to 30 000 in 1987 and 60 000 in 1991. The estimate for 1992 was over 60 000. The reason for the increase was a combination of factors: some people were nervous about Hong Kong's future after the change of sovereignty in 1997, while at the same time there were more immigration opportunities available in the more popular destination countries.

Among those who emigrated in 1992, over 23 000 were in professional, technical, administrative and managerial occupations. To counter the outflow of talent, the government has adopted a three-fold strategy: to be more flexible over proposals for importing skills from neighbouring countries; to facilitate the return of former migrants; and to increase the number of graduates from Hong Kong's tertiary institutions.

The government, with the assistance of other governments, also sought to retain people in Hong Kong through various schemes such as the British Nationality Scheme and the United States Deferred Immigrant Visas Scheme. The first phase of the British Nationality Scheme began on December 1, 1990. At the end of 1992 a total of 66 555 applications had been received. Preparations have been made for the second phase of the scheme to begin in early 1994. This scheme enables up to 50 000 persons and their dependants to acquire British citizenship without leaving Hong Kong. The special provision in the United States Immigration Act of 1990, which allows the deferred take-up of immigrant visas up to the end of 2001, would enable the beneficiaries to have the confidence to stay and work in Hong Kong in the next 10 years or so.

Personal Documentation

During the year, a total of 241 000 passports were issued, up 0.1 per cent on 1991. This total included 150 123 passports issued to persons with the status of British National (Overseas). Demand for Certificates of Identity dropped by five per cent to 127 400. There was also a decrease in the demand for re-entry permits which accounted for 36 per cent of the 580 100 travel documents issued.

From mid-1992, people applying for Hong Kong British passports and Certificates of Identity have been able to do so by post. This removed the need for them to attend in person when submitting their applications. The service has proved popular.

With the completion of the Second Identity Card Re-issue Exercise in December 1991, all identity cards issued before July 1, 1987 were declared invalid. Now, there are two types

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