CONFIDENTIAL
124336 MDLIAN 5196
BUT EXCO'S DECISION TO IMPLEMENT THE REPORT AND TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE STANDING COMMITTEE TO RE-EXAMINE A NUMBER OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE REVIEW WAS ACCEPTED BY THE MAJORITY OF STAFF AFFECTED. THEIR ATTENTION IS NOW FOCUSED ON WHO WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE NEW STANDING COMMITTEE AND WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS THEY
WILL MAKE.
BASIC LAW
11. THE DETAIL OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING PROCESS, AND THE SIGNIFIC- ANCE OF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONTINUE TO ELUDE OR CONFUSE MOST PEOPLE. DISTRICT OFFICERS REPORT THAT THE SILENT MAJORITY HAS REMAINED SILENT AN APPARENTLY APATHETIC. OF THOSE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED AN OPINION, MANY FOUND THE FORMULA FOR POST 1997 CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONVENOR OF ONE OF THE DRAFTING SUB-GROUPS, LOUIS CHA, TO BE TOO CONSERVATIVE. AT THE SAME TIME MANY OF THE SILENT MAJORITY, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DISAGREED WITH CHA, WERE DISTURBED BY WHAT THEY SAW AS THE CONFRONTATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE DEMOCRATIC LOBBY IN DEMONSTRATING AND HOLDING HUNGER STRIKES AGAINST HIS PROPOSAL. DESPITE A GENERAL MISTRUST OF CHINESE INTENTIONS, MOST PEOPLE PREFER GRADUAL CHANGE AND
A QUIET LIFE.
12. MANY OF THE POLITICALLY AWARE IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING PROMINENT DEMOCRATS, INITIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND EXPRESSED SATISFACTI- ON WITH THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE VARIOUS BLDC SPECIAL GROUPS TO AMEND UNSATISFACTORY ASPECTS OF THE DRAFT BASIC LAW. UNFORTUNATELY THIS POSITIVE INITIAL RESPONSE WAS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY OVERSHADOWED
BY THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE LOUIS CHA FORMULA.
EMIGRATION
13. THE NUMBER OF VISAS ISSUED TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS FOR EMIGRATION
PURPOSES IS LIKELY TO TOTAL 46,000 IN 1988, AS COMPARED TO 39,000 IN 1987. THIS FIGURE IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN OUR EARLIER FORECAST (OF 49,000) BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CONSTRAINTS WHICH LIMIT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT CONSULATES CAN HANDLE.
AN ANNUAL OUTFLOW OF THIS ORDER IS PROBABLY ALSO CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINABLE SUPPY OF EMIGRANTS FROM HONG KONG WHO ARE QUALIFIED UNDER CURRENT CRITERIA. THE THREE MOST POPULAR DESTINATION
COUNTRIES REMAIN CANADA, USA AND AUSTRALIA.
VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE