ENG-2003 — Page 520

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

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Kong as dependants. Dependants of persons granted entry into Hong Kong to take up employment or study or as capital investment entrants are required to apply for permission from the Director of Immigration to take up employment in Hong Kong. Such applications would be considered on the basis of criteria similar to those under the policy governing the entry of foreigners for employment.

Capital Investment Entrant Scheme

The new 'Capital Investment Entrant Scheme' was launched in October 2003. The objective of the scheme is to facilitate the entry for residence by capital investment entrants, i.e. persons who make capital investment in Hong Kong but would not, in the context of the scheme, be engaged in the running of any business here. The new capital brought in by the entrants is beneficial to the economic development of Hong Kong. The scheme is generally applicable to foreign nationals, Macau SAR residents, Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country, stateless persons who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country with proven re-entry facilities and residents of Taiwan. Successful applicants are required to invest in Hong Kong not less than $6.5 million in real estate or permissible financial assets, i.e. equities, debt securities, certificates of deposits, subordinated debt and other eligible Collective Investment Schemes. As at the end of 2003, a total of 150 applications had been received of which 19 formal approvals and 35 approvals-in- principle had been granted. The 19 entrants with formal approval had invested a total of $144.27 million.

Illegal Immigration

The HKSAR is vigilant in guarding against the entry of Mainland illegal immigrants. The total daily average arrest figure region-wide for 2003 was 10, a 33 per cent drop compared with 15 in 2002.

The Government maintains close liaison with the Mainland and overseas governments on matters relating to population movements and irregular migration. During the year, representatives from HKSAR law enforcement agencies participated in 'The 9th Pacific Rim Immigration Intelligence Conference' held in Singapore in October, a ‘Legislation Workshop Ad Hoc Experts Group II— Bali Ministerial Conference on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime' held in Port Dickson, Malaysia in November and 'The 8th Plenary Meeting, Inter-governmental Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants' held in Sydney, Australia in December.

Emigration

The estimated number of emigrants dropped from 10 600 in 2001 to 10 500 in 2002. The figure was 9 600 in 2003.

Personal Documentation

The issue of the HKSAR passport is strictly controlled by the Immigration Department. Under the HKSAR Passports Ordinance, eligibility is limited to Chinese citizens who are Hong Kong permanent residents holding permanent identity cards. The passport contains advanced anti-forgery design features. To further enhance the security features of the HKSAR passport, an enhanced version was introduced on January 1, 2003.