ENG-1993 — Page 476

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

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The number of visitors travelling to Hong Kong increased from eight million in 1992 to 8.9 million in 1993, up 11.3 per cent. These included 1.8 million from Taiwan and 1.6 million from China.

To facilitate residents of China visiting Hong Kong, holders of Chinese two-way permits could, with effect from January, enter Hong Kong by sea. Previously, they could only enter by land via Lo Wu.

From August, the requirement for residents of China to obtain a visa for transitting Hong Kong was waived. These travellers can now stay in Hong Kong for seven days without a visa on their way to and from a third country.

Legal Immigration

During the year, 32 900 residents of China came to Hong Kong for settlement. Of these, 13 250 were wives, 14 504 were children and 1 370 were husbands of local residents. Entering Hong Kong for the purpose of family reunion, they made up 89 per cent of all new arrivals.

In November, an agreement was reached with the Chinese Government to increase the size of the one-way permit quota from 75 to 105 a day — making a total of around 38 000 a year.

- - Illegal Immigration

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With its booming economy and proximity to China, Hong Kong is vulnerable to influxes of illegal immigrants from China. During the year, the number of illegal immigrants arrested continued to increase. The daily average arrest figure for 1993 was 103, compared with 97 in 1992 and 70 in 1991. Most illegal immigrants came to Hong Kong for jobs, attracted by higher wages. Frequent checks were therefore conducted on construction sites, factories and other places of employment. Illegal immigrants found at places of work were prosecuted. Their employers were also prosecuted. Most were fined but, in serious cases, prison sentences were imposed.

Emigration

Emigration has been a constant feature of life in Hong Kong. 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 reached 66 000 in 1992. The increase has been attributed to a combination of factors, including concern about Hong Kong's future after the change of sovereignty in 1997 and immigration opportunities in the more popular destination countries. As a result of the recent economic downturn and reduced intake of some destination countries, however, in 1993, the number of emigrants was estimated at about 54 000.

Of those who emigrated in 1993, about one-third were in professional, technical, administrative and managerial occupations. To counter the outflow of talent, the government has adopted a threefold strategy it is more flexible over proposals for importing skills from neighbouring countries, it has increased the number of graduates from Hong Kong's tertiary institutions and it is facilitating the return of former migrants. There were signs that an increasing number of people who had emigrated are returning to Hong Kong. It was estimated that at least 12 per cent of persons who emigrated in the 10 years before 1992 have returned to Hong Kong.