ENG-2006 — Page 486

410 | Population and Immigration

with the community on the options for a sustainable population policy for Hong Kong. The council plans to put forward its recommendations to the Government in 2007.

Immigration Department

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is a separate travel area with autonomy over its immigration policy. In accordance with the Basic Law, the HKSAR Government exercises immigration controls over entry into, stays in and departure from the HKSAR by people from foreign states and regions. The Basic Law also sets out the regulations for entry into the HKSAR of people from the Mainland.

Apart from controlling the movement of people into and out of the HKSAR, the Immigration Department provides a wide range of services to local residents, including the issuance of HKSAR passports and other travel documents, visas and identity cards, the handling of nationality and residency matters, and the registration of births, deaths and marriages. To enhance these services, the Immigration Department has been using advanced information technology since 2001-02 to disseminate information faster and more effectively to a wider audience. The new technology enables the department to meet growing public demand for quality service at lower cost and in a more responsive manner. Where practicable, the department has been conducting business electronically to meet the needs of a fast- moving, fast developing city. The department is also responsible for keeping the flow of immigrants into Hong Kong at an acceptable level and for facilitating admission to Hong Kong of people who can contribute substantially to the city's economic growth. They include professional people, investors and highly talented people.

Immigration Control

The HKSAR welcomes visitors and adopts a liberal visa policy. People from about 170 countries and territories can enter the HKSAR visa-free for visits lasting between seven and 180 days. The number of people entering and leaving Hong Kong in 2006 topped the 202 million mark, 5.6 per cent up on the number for 2005. Close to 151 million arrived by land, mostly from the Chinese Mainland.

Legal Immigration

The Mainland is the major contributor to Hong Kong's immigrant population. During the year, about 54 000 mainlanders joined their families in Hong Kong under the One-way Permit Scheme, which admits 150 mainlanders into the city each day.

Right of Abode

Article 24 of the Basic Law states that permanent residents of Hong Kong, regardless of their nationalities, have the right of abode in the HKSAR, and may obtain permanent identity cards.

Certificate of Entitlement Scheme

Under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law, persons of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong of Hong Kong permanent residents are entitled to be permanent residents of the HKSAR with right of abode. The Immigration Ordinance stipulates