Population and Immigration | 425
departure from the HKSAR by people from foreign states and regions. The Basic Law also contains provisions regulating the entry of people from the mainland of China.
Besides upholding immigration control to maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, the Immigration Department provides a wide range of services to local residents, including issuing HKSAR passports and other travel documents, identity cards; handling nationality and residency matters; and registering births, deaths and marriages. The department has enhanced these services through the use of advanced information technology.
The Immigration Department had an establishment of 5 190 disciplined staff and 1 464 civilian staff at the end of 2011.
Immigration Control
Hong Kong welcomes visitors and adopts a liberal visa policy. People from about 170 countries and territories can enter Hong Kong visa-free for stays of between seven and 180 days. The number of people entering and leaving Hong Kong in 2011 nearly surpassed 253 million, representing an increase of 5.16 per cent from the previous year. Over 190 million people arrived by land, mostly from the Mainland.
An electronic system, e-Channel, is installed at boundary crossings to provide automated clearance for Hong Kong residents and eligible visitors after enrolment. e-Channels for vehicles are also provided at vehicular control points. From December, 2011, eligible Mainland visitors may enrol for e-Channels and to use the service starting from 2012.
Legal Immigration
The Mainland is the major contributor to Hong Kong's immigrant population. During the year, about 43 400 Mainlanders joined their families in Hong Kong under a 'One-way Permit Scheme', which imposes a daily quota of 150.
Right of Abode
Article 24 of the Basic Law states that Hong Kong permanent residents, 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, people 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 that for a person to qualify for the right of abode under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law, one of his or her natural parents must be a Chinese citizen who has the right of abode at the time of birth of that person.
The Government introduced a Certificate of Entitlement Scheme on July 10, 1997, under which a person's status as a permanent resident of the HKSAR under Article 24(2)(3) of the Basic Law can be established only by holding a valid travel
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