This year alone the prospect of Chinese interference is expected to result in the departure of over 45.000 Hong Kong residents. A total of 3.4 million of Hong Kongs nationals were born in Hong Kong. and yet they cannot go to Great Britain. The British Government. which now administers the territory. refuses to offer immigrant status to more than a few thousand people. The passage of this amendment. Mr. President. would insure that the people of Hong Kong will have not only the right but the ability to leave. More than 46.000 Hong Kong residents are now on the waiting list for United States visas. At the current rate they are being processed some of these citizens would not receive visas until after the Chinese Communist takeover in 1997. Hopefully. of course. the citizens of Hong Kong will be able to stay. But if they must leave. the United States should welcome them.
Keywords matched
immigrant visas