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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 Covernment seeks to keep in touch with public opinion. I discussed at some length with officials in the llome Affairs Department, both in the field and in headquarters, the means that are used. Ao-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
7. lavid Wilson told/nat authority has now been given to the Embassy in anoi to isse tensiu visas to vietnamese citizens. This should be of concileve de helt to ani since it always seems to be transit vis..s which cause the matest problem.
Vietna s
2. Luring my stay Dow arrived in nong aong) • Hong Kong Government's have accommodation for
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176 arditional Vietnamese boat people his sudden influx has stretched the coources to the extent that they now nly some 60 further refurces. Should any more than that arrive, they will have to consider opening a
It therefore refugee camp, something that they wish to avoid.
bECOLES Lore pressing for the Long Long Government to get an undertaking in principle from l. to accept a batch of 50
boat people. I have, since my return, spoken to the Home Office who are still very sympati tic and are hopeful, that they can give this agreement in principle within the next week or so.
Social Welfare
9.
1 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 aceept the probability of an accommodation with the Sultan of Brunei.
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