§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the numbers of people immigrating into and emigrating out of Hong Kong in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. MaudeAccording to Hong Kong Government statistics, the figures for immigration into Hong Kong in each of the last 10 years were as follows:
For Settlement For other purposes1 1980 55,313 42,440 1981 54,267 31,035 1982 53,847 36,121 1983 26,701 23,361 1984 27,755 23,454 1985 27,285 28,475 1986 27,111 30,559 1987 27,268 34,394 1988 28,137 44,009 1989 27,263 54,055 1 Employment, study, training, etc. The estimated figures for emigration from Hong Kong were as follows:
Numbers 1980 22,400 1981 18,300 1982 20,300 1983 19,800 1984 22,400 1985 22,300 1986 19,000 1987 30,000 1988 45,800 1989 42,000 Most of those who immigrated for settlement were family reunification cases from the mainland. Those who immigrated for employment were mainly unskilled and semi-skilled labour.
By contrast, 50 per cent. of those who emigrated in the last five years were managerial, professional, administrative and technical staff and their families. There is, therefore, a net outflow of key staff.