HL Deb 27 September 2000 vol 616 cc169-71WA
Lord Morris of Manchester

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the present year and for the two previous years on a quarterly basis, how many applications for entry visas to visit the United Kingdom were made by Chinese nationals, including residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and how many were approved and rejected. [HL3662]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Applicants for visit visas may apply at any British diplomatic post providing a full entry clearance service. Posts do not collect statistics based on the nationality of applicants. Only limited information is collated on the nationality of applicants applying in third countries. Consequently, worldwide figures for the number of Chinese nationals and residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region applying for visit visas at entry clearance posts are not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The following tables show the number of applications received, issued and refused in Peking, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong in the years 1998 and 1999 and for the first six months of 2000. The total of third country national applications for each full year, included in these figures, is identified. Because of the way in which statistics are gathered, a quarterly breakdown of applications received and issued is not possible before 1 January 2000, although quarterly refusal figures are available.

1998

Non settlement applications:

Received Issued
Peking 33,245 27,544
Shanghai 5,653 n/a (computer problem)
Hong Kong 11,271 10,240

Non settlement applications refused:

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Peking 676 652 720 579
Shanghai 16 38 153 167
Hong Kong 57 68 153 149

A total of 7,294 applications were submitted in China by third country nationals in 1998.

1999

Non settlement applications:

Received Issued
Peking 34,836 28,402
Shanghai 8,286 7,151
Hong Kong 5,889 4,833
Guangzhou 4,109 3,910

Non settlement applications refused:

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Peking 581 546 665 1,232
Shanghai Data not available because of computer problems

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Hong Kong 107 71 127 55
Guangzhou 6 62 100

A total of 5,528 applications were submitted in China by third country nationals in 1999.

2000

Non settlement applications received:

Q1 Q2
Peking 7,440 10,627
Shanghai 1,862 5,766
Hong Kong 1,158 3,181
Guangzhou 1,968 3,587

Non settlement applications issued:

Q1 Q2
Peking 5,843 8,374
Shanghai 1,682 3,462
Hong Kong 1,008 1,789
Guangzhou 1,501 2,775

Non settlement applications refused:

Q1 Q2
Peking 1,378 829
Shanghai 172 202
Hong Kong 51 68
Guangzhou 169 327

The totals of applications received, issued and refused will not necessarily match. Applications can be carried over from one year to another and some applicants withdraw during the process.