- 5 -
8.
The Chinese
Government has given repeated
assurances that its policy towards Hong Kong has not
changed. It has also stressed that economic reform and
openness to the outside world remain fundamental
priorities. Both of these are important and welcome
messages for Hong Kong. We for our part have made it clear
to the Chinese Government that action is needed to restore
confidence
in the arrangements for Hong Kong's future. We
need to restore mutual trust as the necessary cornerstone
for the unprecedented political experiment that will begin
1997, the foundations for which must be laid securely in
the next eight years.
in
(b) Emigration
9.
in
In
the
meantime, it is clear that more Hong Kong
people now feel a need to hedge their bets Or seek
insurance policies overseas. The Government predicted
earlier this year that 42,000 people would leave Hong Kong
1989. This estimate remains valid. But emigration levels
are likely to be higher in the next few years. As always,
precisely how many will leave depends not only on events
here and in China but also on the immigration policies of
the countries that people wish to go to.
/10.
I
60'd
S'I'O SO:LT TT-01-686T