The following information was received from the Investigation Division, Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (28 Mar. 2000).

According to the Investigation Division, in 1998 3,594 forged documents were intercepted, of which 2,415 were used by nationals of the People's Republic of China; in 1999 3,530 forged documents were intercepted, of which 2,624 were used by PRC nationals.

The top 10 types of forged documents used by PRC nationals in 1998 were: PRC passport (1,108); Sierra Leone passport (199); PRC two-way permit (for travel between the PRC, Hong Kong and Macao) (190); British National Overseas passport (95); United States passport (62); Korea passport (58); Japan passport (38); Taiwan passport (32) Malaysia passport (30); Philippines passport (10). The top 10 types of forged documents used by PRC nationals in 1999 were: PRC passport (1,170); PRC two-way permit (343); British National Overseas passport (149); United States passport (85); Taiwan passport (43); Japan passport (38); Korea passport (37); Canada passport (33); United States Re-entry permit (30); Nauru passport (12).

The top five overseas destinations for PRC nationals intercepted with forged documents in 1998 were: United States (14.7%); Canada (12.5%); France (6%); Japan (3.1%) and Australia (2.2%). In 1999 the top five destination countries were: United States (18.7%); Canada (6.1%); Holland (3.4%); Australia (2.8%) and France (2.2%).

This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Investigation Division, Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 28 March 2000. Correspondence.