§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked 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 AsthalApplicants 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:
171WA
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.