The number of mainlanders settling in Hong Kong under the one-way permit scheme, particularly those exercising their right of abode here, has fallen short of the government's forecast. Although the daily quota of arrivals has been 150, or 54,570 a year, only 45,234 arrived last year, or 17 per cent short of the full quota.
The shortfall could be explained by the fact that a portion of the quota allocated to mainland children born of Hong Kong parents, who were permanent residents at the time of their child's birth, has not been used. Currently, the quota for this type of immigrant is 60 a day, but the average number of these arrivals has been only 37 a day for the first 10 months of this year. Since 1998, around 130,000 such children have arrived. As the unused quota has not been allocated to other kinds of applicants, the total number of mainland settlers has dropped.
It appears that most of those who could claim right of abode have already come. To be sure, their number was significantly limited as a result of the government's controversial decision to over-turn a ruling by the Court of Appeal in 1999. The court had held that all mainland children of Hong Kong permanent residents should have the right of abode in Hong Kong, as provided for under the Basic Law. However, raising fears that the ruling could mean as many as 1.67 million mainlanders flooding into Hong Kong, the government sought an interpretation of the article by the National People's Congress, which confined that right only to children born of parents who were already permanent residents at the time of their child's birth.
Projections of the movement of people across the border are not easy to make with any great degree of accuracy. However, the way in which the government used the inflated figure of 1.67 million for its own political ends is to be condemned.
The claim pandered to the worst prejudices of Hong Kong people towards mainlanders. It has taken the economic downturn - and the mainland's continued growth and development - to bring home the reality that integration is the key to our city's future success. And now we talk only of the benefit to be gained from welcoming mainlanders to our city. Tourists, professionals and perhaps - in future - those with sufficient funds to invest are being encouraged to come. The barriers are being removed, and not before time.
The mainland, so often in the past seen as a poor neighbour to be kept at bay, is now recognised as having much to offer the people of Hong Kong. Our residents are increasingly choosing to live and work on the other side of the border. The fears that in 1999 inflamed such passions have finally begun to subside. Now, the government's focus is on attracting certain types of mainlanders to our city, those who can contribute to the economy. Getting this right will require refining its population policy.
