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China Emigration and Immigration
Through most of China's history, strict controls prevented
large numbers of people from leaving the country. In modern times,
however, periodically some have been allowed to leave for various
reasons. For example, in the early 1960s, about 100,000 people were
allowed to enter Hong Kong. In the late 1970s, vigilance against
illegal migration to Hong Kong was again relaxed somewhat. Perhaps
as many as 200,000 reached Hong Kong in 1979, but in 1980
authorities on both sides resumed concerted efforts to reduce the
flow.
In 1983 emigration restrictions were eased as a result in part
of the economic open-door policy. In 1984 more than 11,500 business
visas were issued to Chinese citizens, and in 1985 approximately
15,000 Chinese scholars and students were in the United States
alone. Any student who had the economic resources, from whatever
source, could apply for permission to study abroad. United States
consular offices issued more than 12,500 immigrant visas in 1984,
and there were 60,000 Chinese with approved visa petitions in the
immigration queue.
Export of labor to foreign countries also increased. The Soviet
Union, Iraq, and the Federal Republic of Germany requested 500,000
workers, and as of 1986 China had sent 50,000. The signing of the
United States-China Consular Convention in 1983 demonstrated the
commitment to more liberal emigration policies. The two sides
agreed to permit travel for the purpose of family reunification and
to facilitate travel for individuals who claim both Chinese and
United States citizenship. Emigrating from China remained a
complicated and lengthy process, however, mainly because many
countries were unwilling or unable to accept the large numbers of
people who wished to emigrate. Other difficulties included
bureaucratic delays and in some cases a reluctance on the part of
Chinese authorities to issue passports and exit permits to
individuals making notable contributions to the modernization
effort.
The only significant immigration to China has been by the
overseas Chinese (see Glossary),
who in the years since 1949 have
been offered various enticements to return to their homeland.
Several million may have done so since 1949. The largest influx
came in 1978-79, when about 160,000 to 250,000 ethnic Chinese fled
Vietnam for southern China as relations between the two countries
worsened. Many of these refugees were reportedly settled in state
farms on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.
Data as of July 1987
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