- Reached-base Policy
The Reached-base Policy (zh-t|t=抵壘政策) was implemented by the British Hong Kong Government in
1974 to solve the booming of immigrants fromMainland China in the late 1960s and early 1970s.Background
Before the policy was adopted, the immigrants could enter and leave Hong Kong freely. The influx of immigrants was a common problem in Hong Kong at its colonial age. The enormous inflow of people from Mainland after the Communist takeover in
1949 and theCultural Revolution led to population booms in the territory.In November 1974, Hong Kong Government adopted the Reached-base Policy, which allowed immigrants from Mainland China who reached the urban areas and met their relatives to stay. Those who were intercepted at the boundary would be repatriated back to Mainland immediately.
End of the Policy
Under the policy, the number of new immigration was still booming. The government decided to abolish the policy on 24 October, 1980. Immigrants coming directly from the Mainland on or before October 23, 1980 were allowed 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 October 24, 1980 were repatriated immediately. That made the eligible immigrants who reached base before the deadline rush to the Chinese Extension Section of the Immigration Department for identity registration.
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