ENG-2006 — Page 493

Population and Immigration | 413

the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, and those admitted to take up studies in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in local degree-awarding institutions, may sponsor their spouses and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to apply to enter Hong Kong as dependants.

Illegal Immigration

The HKSAR keeps a close watch on illegal immigrants. About nine Mainland illegal immigrants were arrested each day in 2006, 50 per cent up on the figure for 2005. The number of Vietnamese illegal immigrants arrested in 2006 was 598.

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 the HKSAR law enforcement agencies. participated in the Bali Process Workshop on Operationalising Immigration Intelligence held in Singapore in January; the China and Southeast Asia ALO Network Regional Conference held in HKSAR in February; the Inter-Government Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants held in Dalian, China in September; the 12th Pacific Rim Immigration Intelligence Conference held in HKSAR in November; the Bali Process Workshop on 'Human Trafficking: Victim Support' held in Bali, Indonesia in November; the 11th Annual Plenary Session of the Inter- governmental Asia-Pacific Consultations on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants held in Xiaman, China in November; the Third Meeting of the Asian Workshop on Passport Policy held in Tokyo, Japan in November; and Transnational Policing Cooperation in the Area of Combating Illegal Migration in Macao SAR in December.

Emigration

The estimated number of emigrants from Hong Kong was 10 300 in 2006 most of whom went to the United States (3 500), Australia (2 700) and Canada (1 600).

Personal Documentation

Travel Documents

The issuance of the HKSAR passport is controlled strictly by the Immigration Department. Under the HKSAR Passports Ordinance, only Chinese citizens who are Hong Kong permanent residents holding Hong Kong permanent identity cards are eligible for the HKSAR passport. The passport contains advanced anti-forgery design. features.

Applications can be made either by post or in person. Those from overseas can be sent to the Immigration Department through the nearest Chinese diplomatic or consular missions. All HKSAR passports are prepared centrally by the Immigration Department in Hong Kong, for collection either here, or at the relevant Chinese diplomatic or consular missions overseas. During the year, the number of HKSAR passport applications received was 496 736, including 4 419 from overseas.