SECRET
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 Home Affairs Department, both in the field and in headquarters, the means that are used. No-one retended that the surveys were in any real sense scientific but census information is used to arrive at a representative cross section of the Comunity in the first instance, then the same group of people are used as sources. kiile this has obvious drawbacks the lione 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
116
7. lavid Wilson toldjurat authority has now been given to the Lmbassy in anoi to issac transit visus to vietnamese citizens. this should be of consierele 1; to anoi since it always seems to be transit vis. which gau e tu Patest problem.
Vietna
8.
ng
additional
i
luring my ta? om 10 acuiti mal vietnamese boat people arrived in Long kong •
his sudden influx has stretched the Long Kong, Government's esources to the extent that they now have accommodation for only some 60 further refugees. Should any more than that arrive, they will have to consider opening a
It therefore refugee cam, something that they wisn to avoid.
becomes more pressing for the long long Government to get an undertaking in rincile from li tu 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.
focial 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 Curkhas
10. Lecurity 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.
SECRET
/One