5
10
word form, HKD fow Chanary), Canberra
File No.
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE FOR FILE
2. file
341/5
HICD 341
D+A
Pi
•
Page
arrange k F.CO.
Com bea
Mr. Bill Hayden, Foreign Minister of Australia, called on the Governor on 11 April. The following were the main points discussed:
(a) The Governor said that the Hong Kong economy
was doing very well. We had recorded 13% growth in 1987. We were also benefitting from the opening up of China: over one million workers in Guangdong Province alone were now employed by Hong Kong enterprises. Our relations with China on practical issues were good, even if progress was occasionally slow. There was however continuing political nervousness among the middle classes, which tended to be picked up by the international press;
(b) The Governor said that emigration had been
higher than usual in 1987, mainly to Canada, Australia and the US. It was still manageable at present but was likely to get worse. This would be acceptable if a sufficient proportion of emigrants returned to Hong Kong. We were also attempting to over- produce trained workers locally. Mr. Hayden said that the Australian Government appreciated Hong Kong's problem. They did not wish to be seen to be encouraging emigration from Hong Kong. They were also concerned about social tensions relating to the growing Asian minority in Australia. The Governor said that we appreciated the fact that the Australians had taken this line. Other countries had embarked on fishing expeditions for Hong Kong talent, which could be damaging;
(c) Mr. Hayden said that the Canadians were
apparently now requiring immigrants to keep their money in Canada. The Australians were thinking of introducing a similar requirement. He wondered what effect this would have on emigration from Hong Kong and whether it would stop people leaving. The Governor said that he thought it more likely that people would leave and not return. However, freedom of movement of money was less important than the freedom of movement of individuals;
3.F. 92