asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any of the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976 are currently in force in Hong Kong.
None of the provisions of the Race Relations Act (1976) is in force in Hong Kong, as the terms of the Act do not provide for its application to Hong Kong.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what legal regulations illegal immigrants to Hong Kong are returning to the People's Republic of China; if there is any right of appeal; if so, if such persons may be represented by counsel at any hearing; and if legal aid is available.
Illegal immigrants from China are returned under Section 18(1)(a) of the Immigration Ordinance. They have a right of appeal to the Governor, but the procedures do not involve court hearings. Legal aid is not available, but illegal immigrants are allowed access to legal counsel through any relatives or friends in Hong Kong.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many illegal immigrants to Hong Kong from the People's Republic of China have been returned in each of the past five years; and what is the average age of such persons.
The numbers of illegal immigrants returned to China each year since 1974 are:
| 1974 | 223 |
| 1975 | 1,133 |
| 1976 | 810 |
| 1977 | 1,779 |
| 1978 (up to 30th April) | 847 |
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report the number of persons who have entered Hong Kong from China by any legal means other than by re-entry permit for each year since 1972; how many now have permanent legal residence; and what is the average age of such entrees.
The numbers of legal entrants from China to Hong Kong since 1972 are:
| 1972 | 20,355 |
| 1973 | 55,659 |
| 1974 | 32,918 |
| 1975 | 25,641 |
| 1976 | 20,453 |
| 1977 | 26,449 |
| 1978 (up to 30th April) | 13,564 |
About 76,500 of these have been allowed to reside permanently in Hong Kong. Their average age was approximately 27.