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MDLIAN 1762
GREATEST DISQUIET OVER 1997. SOME, A MINORITY, MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN PUBLICLY. MARTIN LEE IS THE MOST PROMINENT EXAMPLE. HE HAS ACQUIRED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT AMONG THE MIDDLE CLASS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG, FOR VOICING THEIR FEARS AND CHALLENGING THE GOVERNMENT. BUT HE DOES NOT REFLECT THE OPINION OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO THE EXTENT SUGGESTED BY THE OVERSEAS MEDIA. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN HONG KONG CONTINUES TO DISLIKE POLITICAL CONFLICT AND REMAINS GENERALLY APATHETIC TO THE DETAIL OF POLITICAL ARGUMENT.
12. DOMESTIC ISSUES CONTINUE TO BE THE ONES THAT AROUSE MOST DAY-TO-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT. THE REACTION EARLIER THIS YEAR TO THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION WOULD CHARGE HIGHER FARES DURING PEAK HOURS IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE. BREAD-AND-BUTTER ISSUES OF THIS TYPE AREQ UICKLY TAKEN UP BY THE PRESSURE GROUPS AND OFTEN ALSO BY DISTRICT BOARDS. BUT IT WOULD BE WRONG TO THINK THAT THESE ISSUES REALLY CAUSE MORE CONCERN THAN THE APPROACH OF 1997. IT IS SIMPLY THAT MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE LITTLE PROSPECT OF EMIGRATING AND ARE CULTRUALLY CONDITIONED TO TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF A HARSH WORLD.
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13. EMIGRATION IS CERTAINLY THE MOST VISIBLE MANIFESTATION OF CONCERN OVER THE FUTURE. THE MAJOR RECEIPIENT COUNTRIES HAVE INCREASED THEIR OFF-TAKE FROM HONG KONG. IN 1987 SOME 39, .000 PEOPLE WERE GRANTED IMMIGRANT VISAS A 79 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 1986. WE EXPECT A FURTHER, BUT PROBABLY SMALLER INCREASE IN 1988. DEPARTURES CAN THEMSELVES BE UNSETTLING AND TEND TO CREATE A SNOWBALL EFFECT IN ADDITION, THE BUSINESS SECTOR IS NOW BEING AFFECTED BY THE LOSS OF EXPERIENCED MANAGERIAL AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF PARTICULARLY IN FINANCE AND COMPUTING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ACCENTUATED BY THE BUOYANCY OF THE ECONOMY AND THE OUTFLOW OF MANAGERIAL AND TECHNICAL TALENT TO HONG KONG ENTERPRISES IN CHINA.
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14. EMIGRATION IS MORE THAN A MEDIA MIRAGE: BUT IT IS NOT YET A CRISIS THE GOVERNMENT IS EXAMINING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IDENTIFY MORE PRECISELY THE SECTORS MOST AFFECTED AND TO INCREASE THE POOL OF TRAINED MANPOWER AVAILABLE FOR THESE. IT IS ALSO LOOKING CAREFULLY AT WAYS OF ATTRACTING BACK TO HONG KONG THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT AND A CQUIRED THEIR INSURANCE FOR THE FUTURE. BUT IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE THESE MEASURES CAN HAVE ANY REAL EFFECT. IN THE MEANTIME, THE MAIN PROBLEM POSED BY EMIGRATION WILL BE A PSYCHOLOGICAL ONE. NERVOUSNESS CAN ONLY TOO EASILY FEED ON ITSELF. IT NEEDS CONSTANTLY TO BE COMBATTED BY THE ACTIONS AND WORDS OF BOTH THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL AS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, IF IT IS TO BE KEPT IN CHECK.
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