The Touch Base Policy (Chinese: 抵壘政策; also known as the Reached Base Policy)[1] was an immigration policy in British Hong Kong from 1974 to 1980 towards the Refugee wave from the People's Republic of China to British Hong Kong. Under the policy, illegal immigrants from China could stay in Hong Kong if they reached urban areas and found a home with their relatives or other forms of accommodation.[2]
The British colony of Hong Kong was a migration hub due to regional instability from the Second Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.[3]: 2 More than 6.3 million emigrants from China had travelled to other destinations through Hong Kong by 1939.[4]: 4 Prior to the Sino-Japanese War, movement across the border between China and Hong Kong was largely unregulated, and Chinese immigrants were not required to carry travel documents.[3]: 5 While many Chinese migrants travelled through Hong Kong, anti-Chinese sentiments in Southeast Asia and failed expeditions led others to settle in Hong Kong.[3]: 2
After the city's population was reduced to 600,000 by the end of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in 1945, it rebounded a year later to 1.6 million and to 2.36 million in 1950, due to the onset of the Cold War and the Communist Revolution in China.[5]: 2 In early 1949, the Hong Kong government only allowed Chinese immigrants with entry permits to enter the city, except for those from Guangdong Province. All people also had to apply for identity cards.[5]: 3
In an attempt to halt this influx of immigrants, a Frontier Closed Area was established by the Hong Kong Government along the border with China in June 1951, and expanded to its largest limit in 1962. Nonetheless the influx of immigrants continued, especially during the Cultural Revolution. In response the Hong Kong Government adopted the Touch Base Policy in November 1974, which allowed immigrants from Mainland China who reached the urban areas (reaching south of Boundary Street) and met their relatives to register for a Hong Kong Identity Card. Those who were intercepted in the Closed Area would be repatriated back to the Mainland immediately.
End of the Policyedit
The Touch Base Policy did not halt the influx of immigrants and was abolished by the Hong Kong Government on 24 October 1980. Immigrants coming directly from the Mainland on or before 23 October 1980 were required to register for a Hong Kong Identity Card in a 3-day grace-period (24-26 of October 1980). Illegal immigrants arriving on or after 24 October 1980 were repatriated immediately, and it became compulsory for Hong Kong residents to carry their identity cards in public areas. Police will randomly check citizens' Hong Kong Identity Card for spotting out Mainland Chinese illegal immigrants, other than searching for other criminal suspects. That made the eligible immigrants who 'touched base' before the deadline rush to the Chinese Extension Section of the Immigration Department for identity registration.
^Murray MacLehose, President of the Legislative Council (23 October 1980). "Statement: Immigration (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1980" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Hong Kong: Legislative Council. pp. 103–106.
^Chan, Johannes (2001). "Section 13 of the Immigration Ordinance: Is the Power Delegable?". Hong Kong Law Journal. 31 (3): 381–388. ISSN 0378-0600.
^ abcdMok, Florence (30 November 2020). "Chinese Illicit Immigration into Colonial Hong Kong, c. 1970–1980". The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History: 1–29. doi:10.1080/03086534.2020.1848402.
^Sinn, Elizabeth (2013). Pacific crossing: California gold, Chinese migration, and the making of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. ISBN9789882208780.
^ abMark, Chi-kwan (2007). "The 'problem of people': British colonials, Cold War powers, and the Chinese refugees in Hong Kong, 1949–62". Modern Asian Studies. 41 (6): 1145–1181. doi:10.1017/S0026749X06002666. ISSN 0026-749X.
January 01, 1970
touch, base, policy, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, januar. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Touch Base Policy news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message The Touch Base Policy Chinese 抵壘政策 also known as the Reached Base Policy 1 was an immigration policy in British Hong Kong from 1974 to 1980 towards the Refugee wave from the People s Republic of China to British Hong Kong Under the policy illegal immigrants from China could stay in Hong Kong if they reached urban areas and found a home with their relatives or other forms of accommodation 2 Contents 1 Background 2 End of the Policy 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground editThe British colony of Hong Kong was a migration hub due to regional instability from the Second Sino Japanese War and Chinese Civil War 3 2 More than 6 3 million emigrants from China had travelled to other destinations through Hong Kong by 1939 4 4 Prior to the Sino Japanese War movement across the border between China and Hong Kong was largely unregulated and Chinese immigrants were not required to carry travel documents 3 5 While many Chinese migrants travelled through Hong Kong anti Chinese sentiments in Southeast Asia and failed expeditions led others to settle in Hong Kong 3 2 After the city s population was reduced to 600 000 by the end of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in 1945 it rebounded a year later to 1 6 million and to 2 36 million in 1950 due to the onset of the Cold War and the Communist Revolution in China 5 2 In early 1949 the Hong Kong government only allowed Chinese immigrants with entry permits to enter the city except for those from Guangdong Province All people also had to apply for identity cards 5 3 Communist reforms and mass movements in China such as the Great Leap Forward also contributed to the Refugee wave from the People s Republic of China to British Hong Kong despite the strengthening of border controls previously 3 2 In an attempt to halt this influx of immigrants a Frontier Closed Area was established by the Hong Kong Government along the border with China in June 1951 and expanded to its largest limit in 1962 Nonetheless the influx of immigrants continued especially during the Cultural Revolution In response the Hong Kong Government adopted the Touch Base Policy in November 1974 which allowed immigrants from Mainland China who reached the urban areas reaching south of Boundary Street and met their relatives to register for a Hong Kong Identity Card Those who were intercepted in the Closed Area would be repatriated back to the Mainland immediately End of the Policy editThe Touch Base Policy did not halt the influx of immigrants and was abolished by the Hong Kong Government on 24 October 1980 Immigrants coming directly from the Mainland on or before 23 October 1980 were required to register for a Hong Kong Identity Card in a 3 day grace period 24 26 of October 1980 Illegal immigrants arriving on or after 24 October 1980 were repatriated immediately and it became compulsory for Hong Kong residents to carry their identity cards in public areas Police will randomly check citizens Hong Kong Identity Card for spotting out Mainland Chinese illegal immigrants other than searching for other criminal suspects That made the eligible immigrants who touched base before the deadline rush to the Chinese Extension Section of the Immigration Department for identity registration See also editRefugee wave from the People s Republic of China to British Hong Kong Chinese emigration People s Republic of China Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao Wet feet dry feet policy USA References edit Murray MacLehose President of the Legislative Council 23 October 1980 Statement Immigration Amendment No 2 Bill 1980 PDF Parliamentary Debates Hansard Hong Kong Legislative Council pp 103 106 Chan Johannes 2001 Section 13 of the Immigration Ordinance Is the Power Delegable Hong Kong Law Journal 31 3 381 388 ISSN 0378 0600 a b c d Mok Florence 30 November 2020 Chinese Illicit Immigration into Colonial Hong Kong c 1970 1980 The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 1 29 doi 10 1080 03086534 2020 1848402 Sinn Elizabeth 2013 Pacific crossing California gold Chinese migration and the making of Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong University Press ISBN 9789882208780 a b Mark Chi kwan 2007 The problem of people British colonials Cold War powers and the Chinese refugees in Hong Kong 1949 62 Modern Asian Studies 41 6 1145 1181 doi 10 1017 S0026749X06002666 ISSN 0026 749X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Touch Base Policy amp oldid 1124897832, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
