Unlike the common question on Chinese immigrants, I was helping a Ph.D candidate to track down emigration statistics from the People’s Republic of China from 1949 to 1989 and to date. A new government sponsored research report Conducted by Xiamen U happens to be released, but only on 1970 to 2008: “从上世纪７０年代到２００７－２００８年间，从中国前往世界各地的移民超过１０００万人。其中，来自港澳台地区的约１６０－１７０万，来自中国大陆约８００多万。前往发达国家的中国新移民近７００万，前往发展中国家的有３００多万。 “Another study estimates that a total of 45 million Chinese have emigrated in the last 30 years. It’s an estimate probably because it’s more difficult for the government to track emigrants than immigrants.
It’s funny that both studies are sponsored by the same government agency (qiaoban). The new study conducted by Xiamen U. is probably more accurate. I met Dr. Zhang at last fall’s conference in Xiamen, and she is coming to WCILCOS this May. I can learn more details of the survey from her in person. Interesting topic. I imagine the number of emigrants prior to the open door policy is probably very tiny (not to count the millions who went to Taiwan in 1948 and 1949).
This reminds me an earlier reference request on China’s emigration policy in 1956. Quite some people were allowed to leave the country unexpectively then.
本来这里的冬天就不冷，而今年尤其如此。 阳光灿烂的日子很多。但是又有几位同行朋友离开。沁沁已经荣获西安大略大学的职位，朱磊乔迁硅谷，黄祺也将告别温哥华。假期忙着给他们送行，心中难免有些失落。但是，我们不都随着工作四海为家吗？收到他们的来信或者电话，语气中已经没有了最初的惆怅。 龙年将至，祝那些在温哥华相识相知的朋友们过得更好!
