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view, if no positive step had been taken over New Territory leases by then, business confidence would go into an ever worsening and unstoppable spiral.
Public Opinion Surveys
6. I had been conscious before my visit of some doubt as to the validity of the various means by which the Hong Kong Government seeks to keep in touch with public opinion. I discussed at some length with officials in the Home Affairs Department, both in the field and in headquarters, the means that are used. No-one pretended that the surveys were in any real sense scientific but census information is used to arrive at a representative cross section of the Community in the first instance, then the same group of people are used as sources. While this has obvious drawbacks the Home Affairs Department argue, with considerable justification, that they are only likely to get a true picture of public opinion once they have built up a good relationship with their sources.
Visas for Vietnamese
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Laluxays
7. David Wilson told/that authority has now been given to the Embassy in Hanoi to issue transit visas to Vietnamese citizens. This should be of considerable help to Hanoi since it always seems to be transit visas which cause the greatest problem.
Vietnamese Refugees
8. During my stay some 120 additional Vietnamese boat people arrived in Hong Kong. This sudden influx has stretched the Hong Kong Government's resources to the extent that they now
Should have accommodation for only some 60 further refugees. any more than that arrive, they will have to consider opening a
It therefore refugee camp, something that they wish to avoid.
becomes more pressing for the Hong Kong Government to get an undertaking in principle from HMG to accept a batch of 50 boat people. I have, since my return, spoken to the Home Office who are still very sympathetic and are hopeful that they can give this agreement in principle within the next week or so.
Social Welfare
9.
I saw a number of aspects of the Social Welfare Department's activities and without exception the facilities offered were extremely impressive. This is one area where I can see no cause for concern on our part.
The Gurkhas
10. Security Branch, despite our assurances to the contrary, still retain doubts on the feasibility of the first contingent of any reinforcement troops arriving in Hong Kong from the UK as quickly as they could from Brunei. However, they accept the probability of an accommodation with the Sultan of Brunei.
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