ENG-2007 — Page 484

408 Population and Immigration

in principle, will be given formal approval, subject to their investments in the manner prescribed under the scheme. The 1 800 entrants, with formal approval, invested a total of $12.82 billion.

Entry for Employment

Hong Kong maintains an open and liberal policy towards entry into the city for employment. There is no sectoral restriction

no sectoral restriction or quota under the admission arrangements. People with special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong, or who are in a position to make substantial contributions to the economy, are welcome. Having ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years, they may apply to become permanent residents. During the year, 32 459 professionals and people with technical, administrative or managerial skills or expertise in other fields were admitted for employment. Over 200 000 non-local talents and professionals came to work in Hong Kong via various admission arrangements since the reunification of Hong Kong with China in 1997.

Employment of Non-Local Students

On October 26, 2007, the Government announced that from the 2008-09 academic year onwards, non-local students of full-time locally-accredited programmes at degree level or above may take up part-time on-campus jobs for not more than 20 hours a week, study/curriculum-related internships and summer jobs. After graduating, they may stay for one year in Hong Kong without any restriction to take up employment. Those who had previously obtained a degree or higher qualification in a full-time locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong may also return to work in Hong Kong so long as the job is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and offers a market rate remuneration package.

Entry of Dependants

Overseas spouses, unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 and dependent parents aged 60 or above of Hong Kong permanent residents, or of those who are not subject to a limit of stay may apply to enter Hong Kong as dependants. People who are admitted under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, those admitted to take up professional employment and those admitted to study in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in local institutions with degree-awarding powers, may also 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 eight Mainland illegal immigrants were arrested each day in 2007, 11 per cent down on the figure for 2006. The number of Vietnamese illegal immigrants arrested in 2007 was 631, an increase of 5.5 per cent up on 2006.

The Government maintains close liaison with the Mainland and overseas governments on matters relating to population movements and irregular migration.