HC Deb 23 July 1971 vol 821 c365W
Sir R. Russell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many refugees have sought asylum in Hong Kong after escaping from the People's Republic of China in each year since 1949.

Mr. Anthony Royle

From 1949 to 1955 some million immigrants are estimated to have entered Hong Kong from China. Some would have been former residents of Hong Kong returning after the Japanese occupation of the Colony.

From April, 1955 to March, 1971, 700,381 immigrants arrived from China and applied for Hong Kong identity cards.