PTAADG
CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO SWITZERLAND: 24-25 MARCH 1988
HONG KONG
Essential Facts
1.
The main economic indicators all suggest that the Hong Kong economy is performing well. In his recent budget the Financial Secretary forecast continued good growth during 1988. Switzerland is a major European trading partner. Hong Kong's 9th largest source of imports worldwide in 1986 and its 14th largest market for
domestic exports.
The Hong Kong/Switzerland ASA was signed in Hong Kong on 26
February. It is the second separate Hong Kong ASA.
2.
3.
Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong now stand at 9610 compared with 8039 in January 1987, the result of increasing arrivals and decreasing departures. Swiss resettlement has been patchy (9 in
1984, 0 in 1985, 22 in 1986, 8 in 1987). In 1987 they said they were willing to consider any refugees for family reunion, and that special consideration would be given to handicapped cases. It is worth bearing in mind that Hocké, UNHCR is a Swiss.
CONFIDENTIAL