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7. BELOW THE SURFACE, HOWEVER, TWO RECENT STATISTICS REVEAL CONTINUING DISQUIET. FIRST, 4,684 PEOPLE ASKED THE AUSTRALIAN
COMMISSION ABOUT IMMIGRATION PROSPECTS DURING JUNE. THIS IS AN
INCREASE OF OVER 33 PERCENT FROM MAY, THE HIGHEST FIGURE SINCE
OCTOBER 1983 AND THE THIRD HIGHEST SINCE JUNE 1981, WHEN THE
AUSTRALIANS BEGAN KEEPING RECORDS IN THEIR PRESENT FORM. SECOND,
A TELEPHONE OPINION POLL AT THE END OF MAY FOUND THAT 55 PERCENT OF
RESPONDENTS REGARDED THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AS A PROBLEM AND THAT
FOR 44 PERCENT IT WAS THE PROBLEM OF GREATEST PERSONAL CONCERN.
THESE ARE BY FAR THE HIGHEST FIGURES RECORDED IN THE TWO YEARS THAT
THE POLL HAS BEEN UNDER WAY: THE EQUIVALENT FIGURES IN THE
PREVIOUS POLL, AT THE END OF MARCH, WERE 36 PERCENT AND 30 PERCENT
RESPECTIVELY.
3. ONE DISTRICT BOARD HAS PROPOSED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT
SHOULD HIRE PROFIEESIONAL EXPERTS TO CONDUCT A TERRITORY-WIDE SURVEY
ONCE DETAILS OF THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ARE KNOWN. ANOTHER BOARD
HAS SENT OUT 12,000 COPIES OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ON ATTITUDES TO THE FUTURE, FOR DISTRIBUTION AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS.
9. ACCORDING TO DISTRICT OFFICERS, THERE CONTINUES TO BE WIDESPREAD
JNLASE ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THE PLA BEING STATIONED IN HONG KONG,
AND ABOUT THE DICTATORIAL WAY IN WHICH DENG ANNOUNCED IT. TALK
OF EMIGRATION CONTINUES. AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING
PRIVATELY THAT THEY WILL KEEP THEIR VIEWS TO THEMSELVES FOR FEAR OF
VICTIMISATION AFTER 1997.
10.
THE HCNA HAVE INVITED A NUMBER OF GROUPS BESIDES UMELCO TO VISIT
PEKING. IN PARTICULAR, THE CHAIRMEN OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG
INDUSTRIES AND OF THE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION, ARE IN PEKING AT THE
NCNA'S INVITATION. THE NCNA ARE ALSO STEPPING UP THEIR ACTIVITIES
AT GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL. ACCORDING TO ONE DISTRICT OFFICER, THEY ARE
PLANNING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH KAIFONG LEADERS. ACCORDING TO
ANOTHER, THEY HAVE BEEN BOMBARDING LOCAL TRADE ASSOCIATIONS WITH
INVITATIONS TO VISIT PEKING.
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/MORALE